Archive for Downsizer For an ethical approach to consumption
 


       Downsizer Forum Index -> The Apiary
Midland Spinner

Book Recommendations

I've got & have read various books - none of them is ideal.
Some of them are too basic - they don't tell me anything that I didn't cover at school (or in the Ladybird book 'Life of the Honeybee') - Some books are so simplified that you feel you are being treated as a complete moron who can't even spell "B" let alone know what one is! Pretty pictures and cartoons are all very well, but don't help when you have a swarm on the fence or an occupied queen cell in the hive.

Others have a lot of information, but it's all scattered around the book, making them readable and informative, but not much use as a quick reference. You have to follow up several entries in the index just to find a recipe for syrup - only to notice a bit later that the recipe that you found was for the other type of syrup and you've just made a gallon of light syrup for autumn feeding or shoved a feeder full of heavy syrup into a hive which is in urgent need of food and could have done without needing to forage for water.

Some of the authors, although learned and informative don't seem to have a real feeling for the bees (one supposedly iconic book which appears to be the bible for some natural beeks suggests knocking bees out with chemicals in order to move them from hive to hive - but cautions that you need to do this quickly otherwise the bees will drown in their own excreta as the chemical makes them void themselves. It also advocates beating the hive to drive the bees into a new container. Confused to be fair, this is a very old book, although it's still cited as an essential download for many people ) I find it hard to rely on a book which says "You can soon put a stop to this nonsense" when talking of some natural bee behaviour. Or casually talking of 'finding the queen and removing her' without acknowledging that this means Killing the queen - a euphemism that I find abhorrent - especially as one of the newcomers at a course last year actually asked where you put the queen (thinking presumably of a home for retired queens) and was shocked to find that 'remove' meant kill - I don't think that the newbie went to the next lesson! If you mean Kill, say so, don't dress it up nicely in a pretty ribbon.

Some books are so technical and specialised that you will only need the information contained inside in the unlikely event that you decide to go into the more obscure realms of Queen rearing or bee genetics (or making wax sculptures of the Severn Bridge).

So, does anyone have any suggestions for a good reference book to have on the shelf for those urgent moments when you have to look up Artificial Swarming, Queen Marking, Feeding or Swarm Capture in a hurry?
chez

I like Ted Hooper, 'Bees and Honey'.
DawnMK

I use Bees at the Bottom of the Garden, it seems to cover the what I need to know at the time.
marigold

Probably not suitable for your needs, but "Mastering the Art of Beekeeping - Volume 1" by Ormond and Harry Aebi is a lovely read (IMO as a non-beekeeper Smile ).
Tavascarow

There is a lot of valuable information in old books that has been long forgotten or superseded by 'improved' methods.
The problem is you have to sort the wheat from the chaff.
Two of my all time favourites are Snelgroves Swarming. Its control & prevention & Queen Rearing.
Not books for the complete beginner, but once you have some experience IMHO.
If you want to take the natural route Tom Seeley's Honeybee Democracy is supposed to be a wealth of info.
It's not a beekeeping book but a study of wild honey bees.
IMHO understanding how they behave in natural circumstances can only help you in providing for their needs in an apiary.
I haven't read it, but many rave about it & I've read a lot of extracts that make perfect sense.
Again one I haven't read but has been highly recommended is Ron Brown. Beekeeping, a seasonal Guide.
Hope that helps.
Smile
Midland Spinner

There is a lot of valuable information in old books that has been long forgotten or superseded by 'improved' methods.
The problem is you have to sort the wheat from the chaff.

That's why I originally posted - trying to find a good Reference volume - one which has all the info I need to hand without having to wade through anecdotes, peripheral information or flip between several pages to find all of the info.
Hooper and Bees at the Bottom of the Garden are both good in their own way, but the information is set out in a readable style - which is great for encouraging you to read around the subject, but doesn't help when you need a handy reference in a hurry.


If you want to take the natural route Tom Seeley's Honeybee Democracy is supposed to be a wealth of info.
It's not a beekeeping book but a study of wild honey bees.
IMHO understanding how they behave in natural circumstances can only help you in providing for their needs in an apiary.
I haven't read it, but many rave about it & I've read a lot of extracts that make perfect sense.
Again one I haven't read but has been highly recommended is Ron Brown. Beekeeping, a seasonal Guide.
Hope that helps.
Smile

Yes, I'd like to go a more natural route in my Beekeeping - but having started on Nationals I'm sticking with them for the time being.
Those last two sound interesting although possibly not as reference books? Maybe as ones to read for more all-round information - more knowledge is always good, but I still want a go-to book - maybe I'll have to write out a series of info cards to keep in my toolbox?Very Happy
Tavascarow

IMHO I think Ron Browns book is close to what you are looking for.
Get your local library to order it so you can read it first before purchase.

Natural beekeeping doesn't mean you have to keep bees in a top bar hive, although it's probably easier.
I know many beekeepers, myself included, still using National & Langstroth equipment & trying to be more natural, by not feeding sugar, priming their frames with strips of foundation instead of sheets. Minimal & less disruptive varroa treatments & swarm control, & losing the queen excluder.
Studying your bees & trying to think what is best for them instead of following rules cast in stone & having faith in the fact they have been around for 10 million years & thrived before human intervention.
At the end of the day a hive is just a wooden box, the management of its inhabitants is the methodology.
Finsky

I don't think there is just one book that would do it.. Rolling Eyes
I've got several books that each are 'good' but each of them have sections that cover some topics really well and others 'too much and too technical' or simplified.

I've come across myself in my early years too about info not being practical enough..but over the years you learn and some things you just cannot pick up from books or they would have to be encyclopedias.

When I started..books mentioned about 'winter bees' and how they die off in late winter/early spring..but they didn't mentioned,,how much is normal to see around hives...or should I see dead bees around hives. It was really alarming to see dead bodies all over the place.
Of course now I know it is lot to do with weather and individual colonies.. how far the dying bees are able to venture to die..how good cleaners housekeepers are, dead bees on snow will look far worst than the situation is...etc..etc..but they don't mention these things on books!!
From my own experience I now try to remember to tell all these things to newbies when showing them around hive and explaing what to expect.
Cathryn

I know what you mean though about a reference book. I intend to go to the library once it reopens and see what would suit me. At the moment I use the Natural Beekeeping forum and the peopl in my beekeeping group.

I also have a lovely leather bound volume - Bagster on Bees "The Management of Bees with a description of the Ladies Safety Hive" (crinolines and all Smile )
Midland Spinner

@ Finsky - I don't want just one book - (I've already got several Very Happy )

But I'm looking for a good 'one-stop-shop' reference volume.

@Tav - I'll look out for Ron brown - sounds like it might be a good one to look at.

I'm probably an unusual case - I'm new to beekeeping, but I have a degree in Biological Sciences so a lot of what's "really technical" to most new beeks is stuff I covered at uni (in a lot more detail usually).

I'm trying to manage my bees as naturally as possible. I try to 'read' their behaviour at the hive entrance and by listening through the hive walls. Sadly none of the books say that one of the signs of a lack of stores is reduced activity both outside and inside- I thought that was just because the few times I'd been able to get to the end of the garden to see them was either while it was raining, or just after a downpour and they were just at home sitting out the cold weather. It was exacerbated by the previous inspection having to be cut short by a sudden downpour. I know now! - Hungry bees don't dance. Luckily I realised that there was something wrong and asked advice asap - hopefully soon enough.
mochasidamo



I'm probably an unusual case - I'm new to beekeeping, but I have a degree in Biological Sciences so a lot of what's "really technical" to most new beeks is stuff I covered at uni (in a lot more detail usually).

I'm trying to manage my bees as naturally as possible. I try to 'read' their behaviour at the hive entrance and by listening through the hive walls.

Assume you have a copy of Storch?
I have a few bee books that are beyond first degree level...join IBRA if you miss the challenge of sifting wheat from chaff in scientific research.
Sally Too


I'm probably an unusual case - I'm new to beekeeping, but I have a degree in Biological Sciences so a lot of what's "really technical" to most new beeks is stuff I covered at uni (in a lot more detail usually).


Very Happy Not that unusual... I'm in that boat too.

And aren't bees just fascinating! Cool
Sally Too



Assume you have a copy of Storch?

This one: Linky to Amazon where book is not available

It has one excellent review.
Midland Spinner



Assume you have a copy of Storch?

This one: Linky to Amazon where book is not available

It has one excellent review.

No! and I want a copy - I've been looking for a while - does anyone have a spare copy?
Midland Spinner


I'm probably an unusual case - I'm new to beekeeping, but I have a degree in Biological Sciences so a lot of what's "really technical" to most new beeks is stuff I covered at uni (in a lot more detail usually).


Very Happy Not that unusual... I'm in that boat too.

And aren't bees just fascinating! Cool

Aren't they just
Cathryn



Assume you have a copy of Storch?

This one: Linky to Amazon where book is not available

It has one excellent review.

No! and I want a copy - I've been looking for a while - does anyone have a spare copy?

It's available as a download on the Natural Bee keeping forum.
Midland Spinner



Assume you have a copy of Storch?

This one: Linky to Amazon where book is not available

It has one excellent review.

No! and I want a copy - I've been looking for a while - does anyone have a spare copy?

It's available as a download on the Natural Bee keeping forum.

Tried that - blimey what a faff - I seem to have ended up joining something I've never even heard of via Facebook and I still didn't get the download.

But on the plus side, I found a copy for sale online and have ordered it. Thanks for reminding me to look for it. Now I just have to wait for it to arrive.
Sally Too

Hopefully the Storch book is now down loading as a pdf. Second book down at this link:

http://www.totnesonline.com/beekeeping_library/?dir=beekeeping_books
jamanda

That link isn't working for me Sally. Sally Too

That link isn't working for me Sally.

I've just changed it to the page before - ie not the pdf itself
Sally Too

Either that or only one person can down load at a time... and it's still going here. jamanda

The link to the list is now OK, Sally Too

All down loaded now. Not sure it will convert for sending to the kindle, but I might give it ago. There looks to be too much formatting. Probably just read it on the computer - it's 66 pages so not too long. mochasidamo

Oh help, seem to have caused quite some rumpus. I have it on paper and pdf. Happy to share but at 20.1mb it needs a Dropbox account or similar.

And of course this year is slightly atypical...my bigger hives have given up on drawing supers and gone back into winter cluster (which they barely did in winter)!
Midland Spinner

Storch has just arrived.
Bedtime reading tonight I think!
mochasidamo

Storch has just arrived.
Bedtime reading tonight I think!

Excellent reading...although this Spring even the bees are mixed up.
       Downsizer Forum Index -> The Apiary
Page 1 of 1
Home Home Home Home Home