Welcome, Guest

Author Topic: Good Books?  (Read 5038 times)

Offline yanks26

  • New Bee
  • *
  • Posts: 4
Good Books?
« on: April 09, 2009, 11:23:14 pm »
I am looking to buy a book which will help teach me all about beekeeping that I need to know. My main purpose for beekeeping would be to get honey from the honey bees.

With this said and my main purpose expressed, what is a good book that you guys recommend I read?

Offline Brian D. Bray

  • Heavenly Beekeeper
  • Heavenly Beekeeper
  • Galactic Bee
  • ********
  • Posts: 7369
  • Gender: Male
  • I really look like this, just ask Cindi.
    • http://spaces.msn.com/thecoonsden
Re: Good Books?
« Reply #1 on: April 10, 2009, 01:39:34 am »
Don't buy 1 book, buy several.  I have never found a book on beekeeping that contained all there is to know on the subject.

Several books will give you a look at beekeeping from several different viewpoints as each beekeeper has his favorite methods that he expounds upon (that's why he wrote the book).  A variety of books will give you more information as each will contain information on things the others don't.

The best, and the most expensive, are: The Hive and The Honey Bee and The ABC and XYZ of Beekeeping.  They are more like encyclopedias on beekeeping a quite comprehensive but still lack a bushel and a peck of beekeeping knowledge.
Some of the smaller pamphlet type books can be real gold minds.

Go to you local library and check out every book on the subject you can find, when you take those back check out the ones you missed because they were already checked out.  Cheaper than buying.
Life is a school.  What have you learned?   :brian:      The greatest danger to our society is apathy, vote in every election!

Offline indypartridge

  • Queen Bee
  • ****
  • Posts: 1131
Re: Good Books?
« Reply #2 on: April 10, 2009, 07:34:57 am »
Quote from: Brian D. Bray
Go to you local library and check out every book on the subject you can find, when you take those back check out the ones you missed because they were already checked out.  Cheaper than buying.
While at the library, look for videos too.

Get involved with a local beekeeping club. Clubs often offer beginning beekeeping classes, and are great places to find mentors and get connected with nearby beekeepers.

One book recommendation: The Backyard Beekeeper by Kim Flottum.

Offline Gunslinger

  • New Bee
  • *
  • Posts: 11
Re: Good Books?
« Reply #3 on: April 10, 2009, 08:01:45 am »
The How-To-Do-It book of Bee Keeping by Richard Taylor. This was very detailed but a little dated. I'm not sure where its availible as it was given to me.

I agree with indypartridge, The Backyard Beekeeper by Kim Flottum is a good book and it is current. I received a copy from Brushy Mountain when I ordered a garden hive setup

Also this site has answered many of my questions with the Search function.

Offline Bee-Bop

  • Field Bee
  • ***
  • Posts: 689
  • Gender: Male
Re: Good Books?
« Reply #4 on: April 10, 2009, 11:47:21 am »
I don't think you will find any book that will tell you;
" teach me all about beekeeping that I need to know "

I know several beekeepers with 40-50 years of experience that are still
learning !

Join your local bee club, use your public library they have or can get thru inter-library loan many books that can help you.

Remember it's only a expensive hobby !

Bee-Bop
" If Your not part of the genetic solution of breeding mite-free bees, then You're part of the problem "

Offline BeeHopper

  • Queen Bee
  • ****
  • Posts: 1122
  • Gender: Male
Re: Good Books?
« Reply #5 on: April 10, 2009, 11:50:45 am »
Wow, just too many to choose from, I actually sold most of mine ( and a few more to sell ) I am keeping one which was my first book and a very good one too, it is The Beekeeper's Handbook, Third Edition: Alphonse Avitabile, Diana Sammataro, Roger A. Morse.

Good Luck  :)


BH

Offline Brian D. Bray

  • Heavenly Beekeeper
  • Heavenly Beekeeper
  • Galactic Bee
  • ********
  • Posts: 7369
  • Gender: Male
  • I really look like this, just ask Cindi.
    • http://spaces.msn.com/thecoonsden
Re: Good Books?
« Reply #6 on: April 11, 2009, 12:58:04 am »
I don't think you will find any book that will tell you;
" teach me all about beekeeping that I need to know "

I know several beekeepers with 40-50 years of experience that are still
learning !

Join your local bee club, use your public library they have or can get thru inter-library loan many books that can help you.

Remember it's only a expensive hobby !

Bee-Bop

Put my name on that list (50 yrs), and I had a mentor who started his beekeeping in 1899, so in a way you could say I've had over a centuries worth of experience poured into my head.  Still learning and still getting surprised.
Life is a school.  What have you learned?   :brian:      The greatest danger to our society is apathy, vote in every election!

Offline Michael Bush

  • Universal Bee
  • *******
  • Posts: 19832
  • Gender: Male
    • bushfarms.com
Re: Good Books?
« Reply #7 on: April 11, 2009, 07:10:03 pm »
Read every book you can find on beekeeping.  :)

I love Richard Taylor, Brother Adam, G.M. Doolittle, Jay Smith, A.I. Root...
My website:  bushfarms.com/bees.htm en espanol: bushfarms.com/es_bees.htm  auf deutsche: bushfarms.com/de_bees.htm  em portugues:  bushfarms.com/pt_bees.htm
My book:  ThePracticalBeekeeper.com
-------------------
"Everything works if you let it."--James "Big Boy" Medlin

Offline hankdog1

  • Field Bee
  • ***
  • Posts: 849
  • Gender: Male
Re: Good Books?
« Reply #8 on: April 11, 2009, 11:44:15 pm »
books are a good way to get you into trouble.  they have good and bad information in all of them.  will they teach you about beekeeping yes and no.  i'd pick up a copy of The Hive and The Honey Bee and go in search of a mentor to share his/her wealth of knowledge.  i know guys who have probably forgot more about beekeeping then i'll probably ever learn.
Take me to the land of milk and honey!!!

Offline annette

  • Galactic Bee
  • ******
  • Posts: 5353
  • Gender: Female
Re: Good Books?
« Reply #9 on: April 12, 2009, 12:12:31 am »
Beekeeping for Dummies was the book that did it for me when I started. But of course, there are so many things in that book that I would not advise anyone to do anymore.

I really just learned from reading lots of stuff on this forum and the main person here that I follow is Michael Bush's way of beekeeping.

http://www.bushfarms.com/bees.htm

Just read his website and you will know enough about beekeeping the right way, IMO.


Offline TwoBigCats

  • New Bee
  • *
  • Posts: 40
  • Gender: Male
    • TwoBigCats
Re: Good Books?
« Reply #10 on: May 06, 2009, 08:00:14 pm »
Beekeeping for Dummies was the book that did it for me when I started. But of course, there are so many things in that book that I would not advise anyone to do anymore.

I really just learned from reading lots of stuff on this forum and the main person here that I follow is Michael Bush's way of beekeeping.

http://www.bushfarms.com/bees.htm

Just read his website and you will know enough about beekeeping the right way, IMO.


i'm curious, what 3 things would you advise against from beekeeping for dummies?

in addition to beekeeping for dummies, my collection consists of franklin carrier's ( carrierbees ) books, Begin To Keep Bees and Keeping Bees (both available from his website, i believe.)  mr C is a san jose, ca-based beek who has been at it 40-50 years and serves as a main source of information in our area.

Offline heaflaw

  • House Bee
  • **
  • Posts: 218
  • Gender: Male
Re: Good Books?
« Reply #11 on: May 06, 2009, 10:40:40 pm »
"How to Do It___"- Richard Taylor.  It focuses on the practical instead of theoretical and it is chock full of info.  Beekeeping is both science and art.  The hardest part for me in learning is separating fact from opinion and realizing that what works for one person doesn't necessarily work for another.  The best advice I have had was from M Bush (I think): when asking advice from 10 different successful beekeepers, you will get 12 different opinions and all of them are right.  It's the same way with books.  Read them all and then do what works for you.

Offline annette

  • Galactic Bee
  • ******
  • Posts: 5353
  • Gender: Female
Re: Good Books?
« Reply #12 on: May 07, 2009, 12:36:17 am »
Beekeeping for Dummies was the book that did it for me when I started. But of course, there are so many things in that book that I would not advise anyone to do anymore.

I really just learned from reading lots of stuff on this forum and the main person here that I follow is Michael Bush's way of beekeeping.

http://www.bushfarms.com/bees.htm

Just read his website and you will know enough about beekeeping the right way, IMO.


i'm curious, what 3 things would you advise against from beekeeping for dummies?

in addition to beekeeping for dummies, my collection consists of franklin carrier's ( carrierbees ) books, Begin To Keep Bees and Keeping Bees (both available from his website, i believe.)  mr C is a san jose, ca-based beek who has been at it 40-50 years and serves as a main source of information in our area.

I do not use Plastic frames, I use starter strips so that would be one thing he never mentioned

I do not medicate my bees and he does so that is another thing.

He cuts out queen cells to keep the hive from swarming and I don't so that would be another thing

There is more if you want




Offline doak

  • Super Bee
  • *****
  • Posts: 1788
  • Gender: Male
Re: Good Books?
« Reply #13 on: May 07, 2009, 12:45:57 am »
Well, I guess I am the odd man out.
I have, I think 10 books. Have read about that many that I don't have.
I have found there are things in all of them I don't do. and there are things I do that I have not seen in books.
I'll bet some one else does that to.
so I am not an odd ball after all.. :roll: :shock: :)doak

Offline Hethen57

  • House Bee
  • **
  • Posts: 435
  • Gender: Male
Re: Good Books?
« Reply #14 on: May 07, 2009, 02:39:52 am »
At my local public library I found "The Beekeeper's Handbook" by Sammataro and Avitabile and an older book called "Practical Beekeeping" by Tompkins and Griffith.  Both have good information and some things that are outdated or where there are now alternative practices.  You need a starting point, then study other sources and try to find a concensus.  Beemaster's lessons are excellent, and there are some other good references on Youtube.  There are a number of different ways to do things and different philosophies with bees...I'm not sure you will find everything in one source.
-Mike

Offline Brian D. Bray

  • Heavenly Beekeeper
  • Heavenly Beekeeper
  • Galactic Bee
  • ********
  • Posts: 7369
  • Gender: Male
  • I really look like this, just ask Cindi.
    • http://spaces.msn.com/thecoonsden
Re: Good Books?
« Reply #15 on: May 07, 2009, 03:53:37 am »
All the books are good and all the books are bad.  Meaning that most preach the writers ideas not what is best in any given situation.  If you read enough beekeeping books you'll be exposed to enough different ways of doing things that you can recognize what's going on in your hives that might have been omitted in books A, B, & C, but covered in Book D.
Life is a school.  What have you learned?   :brian:      The greatest danger to our society is apathy, vote in every election!

Offline Two Bees

  • Field Bee
  • ***
  • Posts: 614
  • Gender: Male
Re: Good Books?
« Reply #16 on: May 07, 2009, 09:59:08 am »
Nothing new to add relative to good books.  All that have been mentioned above are good resources.  I like the practicality of Richard Taylor's books.  But all are good.

What I would add is that you will not learn beekeeping from a book.  Books should be used as references and "guides".  Getting experience from working in your hives is the best teacher.

The one frustration that I had when I started last year after reading for several years (bought Richard Taylor's How To Do It book in 1993) was I couldn't see to get a black or white answer to my questions.  The reason...........there are no black and white answers to bees and beekeeping!
"Don't know what I'd do without that boy......but I'm sure willin' to give it a try!"
J.D. Clampett commenting about Jethro Bodine.

Offline TwoBigCats

  • New Bee
  • *
  • Posts: 40
  • Gender: Male
    • TwoBigCats
Re: Good Books?
« Reply #17 on: May 07, 2009, 02:24:26 pm »
Beekeeping for Dummies was the book that did it for me when I started. But of course, there are so many things in that book that I would not advise anyone to do anymore.

I really just learned from reading lots of stuff on this forum and the main person here that I follow is Michael Bush's way of beekeeping.

http://www.bushfarms.com/bees.htm

Just read his website and you will know enough about beekeeping the right way, IMO.


i'm curious, what 3 things would you advise against from beekeeping for dummies?

in addition to beekeeping for dummies, my collection consists of franklin carrier's ( carrierbees ) books, Begin To Keep Bees and Keeping Bees (both available from his website, i believe.)  mr C is a san jose, ca-based beek who has been at it 40-50 years and serves as a main source of information in our area.

I do not use Plastic frames, I use starter strips so that would be one thing he never mentioned

I do not medicate my bees and he does so that is another thing.

He cuts out queen cells to keep the hive from swarming and I don't so that would be another thing

There is more if you want
interesting to hear, thx very much... there is soooooooooooo much to learn on so many different levels.

ack! (and thx to everyone else for their feedback as well.)

Offline shaux

  • New Bee
  • *
  • Posts: 38
  • Gender: Male
Re: Good Books?
« Reply #18 on: May 07, 2009, 02:32:59 pm »
I started on out First Lessons in Beekeeping from Dadant.  Very well written and they update constantly.  Bought Beekeeping for Dummies and thought it was very good too.  That one tends to recommend a lot of chemicals from what I've noticed.

Offline Natalie

  • Queen Bee
  • ****
  • Posts: 1478
  • Gender: Female
Re: Good Books?
« Reply #19 on: May 07, 2009, 05:01:44 pm »
If you are involved with a bee club they usually have their own collection of books for you to borrow and I would read every one of them.
Even if you pick up one or two things out of each that will help you then you are doing better already.