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Beekeeping for Beginners: How To Raise Your First Bee Colonies
Easy beekeeping for new-bees.
Wouldn’t it be great to raise your own bees, have a fresh supply of honey, and bring thousands of healthy pollinators into your yard? Beekeeping for Beginners is a simple, step-by-step guide that helps you learn the fundamentals of modern beekeeping. You (and your bees) will be buzzing with delight.
From picking the right hive and bringing your bees home to surviving winter and collecting honey, experienced beekeeper Amber Bradshaw takes you on an easy-to-follow journey through your first year of beekeeping and beyond.
Beekeeping for Beginners
Just the essentials—Learn everything you need to know to begin your first colony—written with brand new beekeepers in mind.Modern beekeeping—Start your colony off right with guides that feature the newest practices and current, natural approaches.Learn to speak bee—Clearly defined terms and a complete glossary will have you talking like a pro beekeeper in no time.Begin your beekeeping the right way—and avoid getting stung by mistakes—with Beekeeping for Beginners.
Wouldn’t it be great to raise your own bees, have a fresh supply of honey, and bring thousands of healthy pollinators into your yard? Beekeeping for Beginners is a simple, step-by-step guide that helps you learn the fundamentals of modern beekeeping. You (and your bees) will be buzzing with delight.
From picking the right hive and bringing your bees home to surviving winter and collecting honey, experienced beekeeper Amber Bradshaw takes you on an easy-to-follow journey through your first year of beekeeping and beyond.
Beekeeping for Beginners
Just the essentials—Learn everything you need to know to begin your first colony—written with brand new beekeepers in mind.Modern beekeeping—Start your colony off right with guides that feature the newest practices and current, natural approaches.Learn to speak bee—Clearly defined terms and a complete glossary will have you talking like a pro beekeeper in no time.Begin your beekeeping the right way—and avoid getting stung by mistakes—with Beekeeping for Beginners.
206 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 11, 2019
561 people are currently reading
229 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
May 11, 2021
When it says for beginners, it means beginners. I wish this had been the first beekeeping book I had read because it would have saved me a lot of confusion in understanding how hives were stacked and what the various lids were for. Great for learning terminology and a basic grasp of installation and care. Not as detailed as I would have liked but a good overview. Glad that I had Storey's Guide to Beekeeping to bounce between while installing my first hives.
June 27, 2019
It started for me with the desire to have a vegetable garden. You experiment, you fail, you learn, and you realize that bees are essential to pollination, and how are you going to attract more? So you plant flowers and herbs and you learn what attracts the bees and how to arrange your garden so the bees are indeed attracted(yes). That lead me to start thinking about beekeeping, and like the author, local classes seemed to be for those who already had a wealth of knowledge, something that I certainly didn't have!
Beekeeping for Beginners doesn't assume you already have all the answers. From making sure you know zoning laws in your area, to your bees invading your neighbors pool, to understanding what a hive requires, this book really helps you to look at the whole process( and commitment), and determine if this is something that will work for you and your yard/situation.
The book has an Introduction, Part One: All About Bees and Setting Up An Apiary, Part Two: The First Year of Your New Colony, Beekeeping Resources, a Glossary, References, and an Index. Everything is laid out clearly and logically, and after I finished reading, I feel prepared to look for beekeepers in my area, and possibly take the next step( I have to check to see if my town imposes any restrictions). All in all, a very good read and one I would recommend to anyone who wants basic beekeeping information.
I received an ARC from Rockridge Press through Callisto Publisher's Club.
Beekeeping for Beginners doesn't assume you already have all the answers. From making sure you know zoning laws in your area, to your bees invading your neighbors pool, to understanding what a hive requires, this book really helps you to look at the whole process( and commitment), and determine if this is something that will work for you and your yard/situation.
The book has an Introduction, Part One: All About Bees and Setting Up An Apiary, Part Two: The First Year of Your New Colony, Beekeeping Resources, a Glossary, References, and an Index. Everything is laid out clearly and logically, and after I finished reading, I feel prepared to look for beekeepers in my area, and possibly take the next step( I have to check to see if my town imposes any restrictions). All in all, a very good read and one I would recommend to anyone who wants basic beekeeping information.
I received an ARC from Rockridge Press through Callisto Publisher's Club.
February 4, 2020
Very good. I'm excited to get started. Looks like the hardest part of beekeeping is identifying if something is wrong with your hive and whether or not it can be fixed. I'll have to look into local beekeeping groups.
December 1, 2021
A very good introduction to beekeeping. Although this book hardly has all of the information necessary to actually start beekeeping, it does provide enough structure and knowledge to make beekeeping seem accessible and interesting. It makes me excited to get some bees of my own!
January 31, 2024
Great for beginner bee keepers! I love how she lays everything out based on season and also discusses key things to inspect and what diseases to look out for. This will be an awesome reference to look back on when I start beekeeping.
December 19, 2020
Super easy to read with great pictures, this is a fantastic introduction to beekeeping. Look out 2021!
June 29, 2020
A book for the "newbee".
I am very new to beekeeping. At my age, 69, I know what I do not know and take comfort in that lack of knowledge. This book took a simplistic and understanding approach to the "newbee.". It is worth the small investment of time and money.
I am very new to beekeeping. At my age, 69, I know what I do not know and take comfort in that lack of knowledge. This book took a simplistic and understanding approach to the "newbee.". It is worth the small investment of time and money.
July 28, 2019
Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.
Beekeeping for Beginners is a new guide aimed at beginning beekeepers who might not have a good support and instruction network in place yet. Released 25th June 2019 by Rockridge, it's 178 pages and available in ebook and paperback formats.
Beekeeping has become ever more popular the last few years and there are a plethora of books covering every imaginable facet of beekeeping. The flood of books available reflects the rise in popularity as more and more gardeners and hobbyists turn to beekeeping as a way to increase productivity and 'do their bit' for nature. It's not always easy to tell which books represent the best value for readers. I've been beekeeping since I was a little kid assisting my grandfather and I try to read and review hobby books with an eye toward what would have helped me most when I was starting out again independently.
This is an accessible, scientifically accurate, appealing book aimed at getting the layperson from dreaming about beekeeping through setting up the first beehives as well as helping the bees to thrive through the first year(s). It follows a logical layout split into three main parts: 1) bee anatomy and behavior and setting up an apiary, 2) the new apiary's first year, and 3) what to expect and troubleshooting for the future.
Worth noting for Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is included in the KU subscription to download and read for free.The ebook format also has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.
I think most people realize at this point how fundamental our pollinators are to our future. Now, there are more people than ever seeing the health benefits not just to nature but to the beekeepers themselves from the exercise and stress reduction which are part of keeping them. Beekeeping is a wonderful and productive hobby and this book is a good basic introduction.
It's a valuable addition to the beekeeper's library. I would strongly recommend it in addition to a few other apiary classics (Beekeeping for Dummies, for example). I like the author's encouraging and informal writing style very much.
Five stars. Always nice to see new and up-to-date beekeeping books!
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
Beekeeping for Beginners is a new guide aimed at beginning beekeepers who might not have a good support and instruction network in place yet. Released 25th June 2019 by Rockridge, it's 178 pages and available in ebook and paperback formats.
Beekeeping has become ever more popular the last few years and there are a plethora of books covering every imaginable facet of beekeeping. The flood of books available reflects the rise in popularity as more and more gardeners and hobbyists turn to beekeeping as a way to increase productivity and 'do their bit' for nature. It's not always easy to tell which books represent the best value for readers. I've been beekeeping since I was a little kid assisting my grandfather and I try to read and review hobby books with an eye toward what would have helped me most when I was starting out again independently.
This is an accessible, scientifically accurate, appealing book aimed at getting the layperson from dreaming about beekeeping through setting up the first beehives as well as helping the bees to thrive through the first year(s). It follows a logical layout split into three main parts: 1) bee anatomy and behavior and setting up an apiary, 2) the new apiary's first year, and 3) what to expect and troubleshooting for the future.
Worth noting for Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is included in the KU subscription to download and read for free.The ebook format also has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.
I think most people realize at this point how fundamental our pollinators are to our future. Now, there are more people than ever seeing the health benefits not just to nature but to the beekeepers themselves from the exercise and stress reduction which are part of keeping them. Beekeeping is a wonderful and productive hobby and this book is a good basic introduction.
It's a valuable addition to the beekeeper's library. I would strongly recommend it in addition to a few other apiary classics (Beekeeping for Dummies, for example). I like the author's encouraging and informal writing style very much.
Five stars. Always nice to see new and up-to-date beekeeping books!
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
July 31, 2019
This book turned out to be an unexpected surprise. I've read other beekeeping books geared towards beginners & haven't been thrilled with the majority of them. This slender unassuming book contains all the basics one needs to know to get started keeping bees. There is no self promotion or fluff. No bee porn. Just the facts from a backyard beekeeper who, from my understanding prefers to use more natural or organic methods vs. chemical or synthetic methods to keep her bees. However, this doesn't necessarily mean the author codons traditional methods.
The book is straightforward, clear, & concise. The author starts with the benefits of beekeeping, business opportunities, challenges & legalities. She next explains how bees behave so that you as a beekeeper have a better understanding of their needs. Chapter 3 focuses on three types of hives: Langstroth, Top Bar, & Warre. She discusses the pros & cons of each hive as well as the pros & cons of buying or building your own, along with her list of must have beekeeping tools & supplies. In Chapter 4 she focuses on the different types of bees. Just like in her chapter on the different hives, she discusses the pros & cons of the different types of bees & even helps the reader learn how to create their own honeybee haven/garden. Chapter 5 is about the big day - bringing the bees home. How to prepare for the big day, how to release them & feed them. Chapter 6 discusses what you need to do to properly inspect your hive. Chapter 7 breaks down what to expect during each season for one year. Chapter 8 is what we are all waiting for, honey! Here we learn what honey is, how it is made, how to harvest both the honey & the wax, & the equipment required. Chapter 9 is geared towards helping you keep your hive healthy. She discusses why bees get sick, how to tell when you have a sick hive, how to treat the hive, & which pests you need to watch out for. The final chapter is about the future of the newbies bees. Getting another hive (or not), swarming, & cleaning.
The end of the book lists beekeeping resources, a glossary, references, & an index.
As a small eco farmer, I really found this book to be straight forward & incredibly helpful. We have been wanting bees long before we started farming. Farming is an incredible amount of work. This is the main reason we still do not have bees after more than a decade of organic farming. The idea of taking on yet another responsibility is daunting. However, we still hope to have bees in our future (hence our desire to keep reading about beekeeping). In the meantime, we plant plenty of organic treats for our local pollinators to enjoy.
If you are thinking about getting into beekeeping, this book is well worth your time.
The book is straightforward, clear, & concise. The author starts with the benefits of beekeeping, business opportunities, challenges & legalities. She next explains how bees behave so that you as a beekeeper have a better understanding of their needs. Chapter 3 focuses on three types of hives: Langstroth, Top Bar, & Warre. She discusses the pros & cons of each hive as well as the pros & cons of buying or building your own, along with her list of must have beekeeping tools & supplies. In Chapter 4 she focuses on the different types of bees. Just like in her chapter on the different hives, she discusses the pros & cons of the different types of bees & even helps the reader learn how to create their own honeybee haven/garden. Chapter 5 is about the big day - bringing the bees home. How to prepare for the big day, how to release them & feed them. Chapter 6 discusses what you need to do to properly inspect your hive. Chapter 7 breaks down what to expect during each season for one year. Chapter 8 is what we are all waiting for, honey! Here we learn what honey is, how it is made, how to harvest both the honey & the wax, & the equipment required. Chapter 9 is geared towards helping you keep your hive healthy. She discusses why bees get sick, how to tell when you have a sick hive, how to treat the hive, & which pests you need to watch out for. The final chapter is about the future of the newbies bees. Getting another hive (or not), swarming, & cleaning.
The end of the book lists beekeeping resources, a glossary, references, & an index.
As a small eco farmer, I really found this book to be straight forward & incredibly helpful. We have been wanting bees long before we started farming. Farming is an incredible amount of work. This is the main reason we still do not have bees after more than a decade of organic farming. The idea of taking on yet another responsibility is daunting. However, we still hope to have bees in our future (hence our desire to keep reading about beekeeping). In the meantime, we plant plenty of organic treats for our local pollinators to enjoy.
If you are thinking about getting into beekeeping, this book is well worth your time.
November 14, 2019
I was blown away at how this book was set up with lots of pictures and breakout boxes to give readers a little side chat. I liked the easy step by step process of starting your own beehive. This book is well organized. I was amazed at the variety of bees. Who knew? This book is great for beginners and/or anyone in the planning/thinking stages of going on this journey. The author gives helpful information, combined with wonderful pictures that help for an interesting read. I appreciated the section titled Are You Ready to Start Beekeeping? There are items there I wouldn’t think to ponder about this adventure. I found it helpful.
The author’s enthusiasm shines throughout this book and has some bee puns that made me giggle. I liked how she had you count the cost of this journey and your options. She gives you the top three hives, the pros, cons, cost and what each is best for; showing pictures of each, giving you options and a direction for your hive.
The author has a picture of the equipment needed in dealing with bees such as a bee suit, gloves, smoker, bee brush, etc. She gives other helpful information such as “Times You don’t Want To Inspect the Hive” She talks about being prepared for bee stings with several natural remedies. Then how to harvest your honey step by step.
In the back of the book there are Beekeeping Resources Organization, Beekeeping Apps, and a Glossary. I got more than I expected from this book. It’s one I’ll referrer to over and over when and/or if my family goes in this direction.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”
Nora St. Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins! www.bookfun.org
The Book Club Network blog www.psalm516.blogspot.com
Book Fun Catalogue front page www.bookfun.org
June 5, 2019
I am certain that most people have heard by now that the honey bees are in danger and that initiatives are starting to ensure that these bees survive. Bees are an essential part of the ecosystem. Not only do they produce honey, but they also contribute through pollination to the survival of a lot of plants. So being a beekeeper, a hobby that is actually quite common in my area, is not only ensuring a steady supply of honey, but also doing something good for the environment.
So if you want to support bees and help out the ecosystem, this book does a good job of introducing you to the basics of beekeeping. It walks you through picking the right hive and ensuring that your bees make it through the lean time (aka winter). While most people probably would still benefit from a class, this book is recommended as a support material to fill the gaps and as a constant companion for the beginning beekeeper. I really appreciate that the hints include all natural approaches because it is thougt that the use of pesticides also contributes to the endangered status of the honeybee.
I received a free copy of the book from the publisher.
So if you want to support bees and help out the ecosystem, this book does a good job of introducing you to the basics of beekeeping. It walks you through picking the right hive and ensuring that your bees make it through the lean time (aka winter). While most people probably would still benefit from a class, this book is recommended as a support material to fill the gaps and as a constant companion for the beginning beekeeper. I really appreciate that the hints include all natural approaches because it is thougt that the use of pesticides also contributes to the endangered status of the honeybee.
I received a free copy of the book from the publisher.
April 24, 2025
This book made me so pumped to be a beekeeper. I’ve already got my hive and bees but it’s never too late to learn more: especially as a new beekeeper. Bees play such an important part in making our world go round and I feel so lucky I get to play a small role 🥹 also, according to science beekeepers live 21% longer sooo that’s cool and lucky for me.
If you’re looking a book that goes through bee terminology, how to set up a hive, how to perform inspections, brief overview of diseases, pest, honey extraction, this is a great book! I did find that some info was out of date like when she said queen excluders aren’t included with the purchase of Langstroth Hives… that might’ve been true before but I just got my hive from Hoover Hives and it did come w an excluder!
Def keeping this book on my kindle bookshelf to refer to in the future!
“Talk about dedication. For the bee, that is life: the survival and continuation of the colony, pure and simple”. 🫶🏽
If you’re looking a book that goes through bee terminology, how to set up a hive, how to perform inspections, brief overview of diseases, pest, honey extraction, this is a great book! I did find that some info was out of date like when she said queen excluders aren’t included with the purchase of Langstroth Hives… that might’ve been true before but I just got my hive from Hoover Hives and it did come w an excluder!
Def keeping this book on my kindle bookshelf to refer to in the future!
“Talk about dedication. For the bee, that is life: the survival and continuation of the colony, pure and simple”. 🫶🏽
April 15, 2020
Beekeeping for Beginners is a thorough instruction for those whom are desiring to keep bees. The author walks through her entire experience from thinking about bees all the way through multiple years of actually keeping them. She discusses things like types of bee houses, types of bees, pests, diseases, and so much more. This book is an all-inclusive look at the process allowing me to think about whether this is a hobby that I want to get into or not.
I received this book from the publisher.
I received this book from the publisher.
September 6, 2022
Very easy to read and flows well. Important information is repeated and referred to in different ways to ensure absorption. There is a starting point and an endpoint to the learning. It is very educational and insures a person wanting bees is well informed before they buy any bee supplies or the bees! There are many books on raising bees. This one is the best starter book you can get. It gives a solid starting point for a new beekeeper.
February 4, 2025
B-b-b-buh-buzz.
🖊 This book was okay, but I thought the tone was a bit patronizing, so what would Pooh do? How about— 🗑 “other readers may find this book their honey pot”?
જ⁀🟡 Kindle Unlimited.
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ᗰY ᖇᗩTIᑎᘜ ᗷᖇᗴᗩKᗪOᗯᑎ:
ᘜᖇᗩᗰᗰᗩᖇ: ★★★☆☆
ᗯᖇITIᑎᘜ ᔕTYᒪᗴ: ★★★☆☆
ᑕOᑎTᗴᑎT: ★★★☆☆
ᒪᗩᑎᘜᑌᗩᘜᗴ: ★★★☆☆
ᗴᗩᔕᗴ Oᖴ ᖇᗴᗩᗪIᑎᘜ: ★★★☆☆
ᗰY ᖇᗴᑕOᗰᗰᗴᑎᗪᗩTIOᑎ: ★★☆☆☆
TOTᗩᒪ: ★★★☆☆ (3.4)
🖊 This book was okay, but I thought the tone was a bit patronizing, so what would Pooh do? How about— 🗑 “other readers may find this book their honey pot”?
જ⁀🟡 Kindle Unlimited.
༺ ༅ ✬ ༅ ༻ ༺ ༅ ✬ ༅ ༻
ᗰY ᖇᗩTIᑎᘜ ᗷᖇᗴᗩKᗪOᗯᑎ:
ᘜᖇᗩᗰᗰᗩᖇ: ★★★☆☆
ᗯᖇITIᑎᘜ ᔕTYᒪᗴ: ★★★☆☆
ᑕOᑎTᗴᑎT: ★★★☆☆
ᒪᗩᑎᘜᑌᗩᘜᗴ: ★★★☆☆
ᗴᗩᔕᗴ Oᖴ ᖇᗴᗩᗪIᑎᘜ: ★★★☆☆
ᗰY ᖇᗴᑕOᗰᗰᗴᑎᗪᗩTIOᑎ: ★★☆☆☆
TOTᗩᒪ: ★★★☆☆ (3.4)
February 7, 2024
Awesome book
This book takes you from knowing absolutely nothing, to feeling like you know everything. Though I know have a lot to still learn. But, I now feel confident to buy my first hive and bees and get started. Thank you Author Amber Bradshaw, this book is fantastic. And trust me, I hate reading!
This book takes you from knowing absolutely nothing, to feeling like you know everything. Though I know have a lot to still learn. But, I now feel confident to buy my first hive and bees and get started. Thank you Author Amber Bradshaw, this book is fantastic. And trust me, I hate reading!
September 7, 2025
4.25 stars. Being a novice beekeeper, I found this book to be a good resource of information. Our 2 hives have successfully survived the summer and we even were able to harvest several quarts of honey and the bees are still working. A lot of resources and places you can go for help are also included.
Read
December 23, 2019Really interesting. I learned a lot bees I didn't know. This would be a great beginners book if one were starting to learn basic home beekeeping. Well written and straight to the point. I enjoyed the extra facts on each page as well.
February 2, 2020
Very Well Written
This book is an excellent resource for the beginning beekeeper. It answered many of the questions that I had and explained the beekeeping process from start to finish.
This book is an excellent resource for the beginning beekeeper. It answered many of the questions that I had and explained the beekeeping process from start to finish.
August 12, 2022
A good place to start
I started knowing that Bee's make honey and the sharp end stings. A great place to learn what your about to get in to. . and a little surprised at how much there is to learn . good luck.
I started knowing that Bee's make honey and the sharp end stings. A great place to learn what your about to get in to. . and a little surprised at how much there is to learn . good luck.
May 30, 2024
For someone like me who cant even tell different bees apart, this was an excellent read while i am trying to start a beeHive, from learning all the terms to buying equipment and all, thank you Ms. Bradshaw!! Do you have a FB page?
May 4, 2025
Good starters book on beekeeping. I loved the detailed explanations of all the terms - as well as the photos of different brood types and how to recognize them. A tad too much bee-puns for my taste - but hey - I’m no fun.
May 2, 2020
A great overview of what to expect from starting your first bee colony. Easy to read, and just enough details to get started.
May 9, 2020
Great info for a beginning beekeeper.
This book has all the information you need to get started with honeybees. It is a quick read which is both enlightening and entertaining.
This book has all the information you need to get started with honeybees. It is a quick read which is both enlightening and entertaining.
May 29, 2020
Nice book
👍Great read for beginner👍 I would recommend it to anyone getting into bee keeping👍it is very short and straight to the point
👍Great read for beginner👍 I would recommend it to anyone getting into bee keeping👍it is very short and straight to the point
June 22, 2020
Excellent book. Very helpful. Easy to understand.
July 23, 2020
A great beginners resource for a first time beekeeper like myself.
July 25, 2020
Really great - esp. for a complete beginner.
September 26, 2020
I need to buy this book! The author is local and the book is excellent.
February 15, 2021
I learned a lot from this book. The author is very knowledgeable and she made it easy to understand. I gave it 4 stars because I would have loved a few more pictures of things she described.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews