The Beekeeper's Handbook

by Diana Sammataro and Alphonse Avitabile

Since 1973, thens of thousands of first-time and experienced beekeeper all have relied on The Beekeeper's Handbook as the best single-volume guide to the hobby and profession of beekeeping. Featuring clear descriptions and authoritative content, this handbook provides step-by-step directions accompanied by illustrations for setting up an apiary, handling bees, and working throughout the season to maintain a healthy colony of bees and a generous supply of honey. This book explains the various colony care options and techniques, noting advantages and disadvantages, so that beekeepers can make the best choices for their own hives. This fourth edition has been thoroughly redesigned, expanded, updated, and revised to incorporate the latest information on Colony Collapse Disorder, green IPM methods, regional overwintering protocols, and procedures for handling bees and managing diseases and pests such as African honey bees and bee mites. The book explains not only how to but also why each step is part of the transformative process that results in the magnificent creation of honey. This essential guide is a beekeeper's most valuable resource.

308 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1978

Reviews

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the 3rd edition of the book. It seems like it took me forever to read. I made it through. There is so much about honey bees that i need to learn. And I think this book had a lot of great information about honey bees. If only I could spend the rest of my life studying it then I could become a honey bee expert.
My two favorite things in the book were a recipe for bee brood and and the page on how to raise wax moths for fishing bait and food for people. It says wax moths cane be fried. When fried they pop like popcorn, and when salt is added they taste like potato chip or corn puffs. I have to eat insects. Most of the world eats insects so I should also.
The beekeepers handbook has everything you would expect from a book about beekeeping. Personally I never to memorize bee anatomy. Learning about beekeeping is so much fun. I am sure actually beekeeping would be more fun. I can't want to keep bees for real. I hope I become a beekeeper some day.
Thinking about sitting around a beehive and watching the bees fly around seems fun. I am sure the sound of the bees would be relaxing.
Reading this book was not a wast of my time.

[Trey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this Book very much because it is detailed and helpful. I am starting beekeeping and this book has all the information I need. It tells me on how to take care of my bees. They show me how to start a beehive and which form to get my bees, Nuc, package, or swarm. They also tell me how to prevent diseases in my hive. Without out this book I would not know any thing about bees and how to take care of them.