Show Me the Honey: Adventures of an Accidental Apiarist

by Dave Doroghy

"If you think beekeeping is a quick and easy shortcut to wealth, this book will set you straight. . ." ― New York Times A lighthearted, self-deprecating account of one fledgling beekeeper’s misadventures. With wit and warning in equal measure, this informative, refreshingly honest narrative will resonate with any new beekeeper. When Dave Doroghy’s sister gave him 15,000 honey bees as a Christmas gift, his practical knowledge of beekeeping would have fit on the proverbial backend of an Apis mellifera. He spent the next two years learning everything he needed to know to keep that beehive alive and well―he attended a beekeeping conference, joined a bee club, and even went to bee school. But bad things still happened―he sustained multiple stings, wasps attacked his hive, he fought an ongoing battle with killer varroa mites, and even lost his queen―twice! In Show Me the Honey Doroghy recounts his often tension-filled misadventures in beekeeping with self-deprecating humour and lightheartedness. Whether it’s the impending chaos of transferring tens of thousands of insects to an outyard, the horror of discovering bees on the inside of his beekeeping suit, or just wondering if he will end up with even an ounce of honey for all his efforts, Doroghy shares the joy, the surprises, and the less-acknowledged financial sting of keeping bees. Above all, he relishes in the details of keeping a hive and getting to know the fascinating little creatures that inhabit those mysterious wooden boxes. In Show Me the Honey Doroghy recounts his often tension-filled misadventures in beekeeping with self-deprecating humour and lightheartedness. Whether it’s the impending chaos of transferring tens of thousands of insects to an outyard, the horror of discovering bees on the inside of his beekeeping suit, or just wondering if he will end up with even an ounce of honey for all his efforts, Doroghy shares the joy, the surprises, and the less-acknowledged financial sting of keeping bees. Above all, he relishes in the details of keeping a hive and getting to know the fascinating little creatures that inhabit those mysterious wooden boxes.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Nature, Audiobook, Science

320 pages, Paperback

Published April 28, 2020

Reviews

[Petra X · Rating 5 out of 5]

A 5-star book! Beautifully written with a surprise ending which was really unexpected in a book that was quite technical at times. But it was a love story too. Birth, death, love and sex; all those big existential themes come together in the ending.
____________________

Cheating. The author has extreme exam phobia and also laziness towards repetitive learning, so despite a glittering career, he decides to cheat in his Beekeeper's exam. He's well practiced at this (from boyhood) and gives exact details of how to do it and get away it. He said that neither his partner nor his sister, fellow beekeepers, know how he "earned" his 84% and gold-starred, framed Master Beekeeper's certificate. They'd find out from the book! Such subterfuge made me smile.
____________________

What would you think of an older guy retired to live on a houseboat, he calls it his 'float home', on the Fraser river, who talks about his girlfriend but not grandchildren, and writes lots of jokey asides about his life and raising bees? I thought, I bet if I could see his music collection he'd have a load of old hippie songs. I thought I had him pinned. But no, he was a top sports marketing executive. I didn't think I could stand much more of the laid-back hippie, but now, I'm kind of going hmmm, where's this going? And where it went was some nice pics of his floating home, a discussion on bees and bee-keeping, nothing too technical, all written with warmth and personality. It's enjoyable even if you don't like bee books as much as I do.

Update, last one I was going to write a proper review of this book, but the author commented. So I asked in a ' General Update' how people felt about authors commenting on their reviews. Tamara's "I realize most of them don't have any ill intentions, but that kind of move makes me feel pressured..." came closest to how I feel. You know that the author is monitoring reviews and it feels like s/he is breathing over your shoulder to see what you think of their work. It's an uncomfortable feeling.

I have a policy of not reviewing books by authors I know, mostly local ones, since they used to kick up shit if I didn't write something along the lines of, "Obviously in line for a Nobel Prize for Literature at some point, this amazing story by a really fantastic author will become a stratospheric bestseller...' and post it on Amazon and everywhere else. They still come into my bookshop and ask me for reviews (and surreptitiously move their books to front/centre and one in the window).

Since most of the books are Christian Inspirational or poetry of a sub Milk and Honey kind - you know, sentences broken up in to short lines and metaphors about the sun and stars masquerading as deep existential thought, I can't do it.

The last time I reviewed a book by an author I knew - he has several and writes for film (Oscar nominated too) and tv, we were having an affair as he was often in the islands with his boat and I was often in Miami, so it was fun. Then a woman who also had a boat here came into the shop, I tried to sell her his book, being as she was Canadian too - any hook! - she said very coldly, "They used to be our best friends." They? He was married! Nice. So that was that. Then he wrote really nasty comments on my reviews of his books, so I had to delete them. And I thought 'never again'.

[Simone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dave Doroghy has written a charming and amusing cautionary tale about his experiences in bee-keeping. Things don’t go well all the time, but his optimism never flags; he is brutally honest (and quite funny) about his own apiarist shortcomings, thereby teaching the reader What Not To Do. He also presents an enthusiastic yet realistic summary of what it really means to embark upon a bee-keeping hobby, and it’s not for the faint of heart or wallet. All in all a charming, informative look at a hugely important industry and pastime, and as he points out in his penultimate chapter, one upon which humanity is utterly dependent. Here’s hoping Dave’s continuing apiary adventures will bring home the honey for many years to come.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I must admit that I never envisioned becoming an apiarist but I do find the idea of being one intriguing. A friend of mine became very interested in bees several years ago and her excitement did brush off on me. Since, than I have become more interested to learn more about bee keeping.

After reading this book, I have learned so much about what it takes to be an apiarist. It is not as easy as you might imagine. It takes a lot of hard work and lots and lots of patience. As Doug will tell you, the bees became his family.

There were many moments along the way as Doug learned about caring for the bees that many bee lives were lost. From transporting them, to sugar overload, other enemies invading the hives, etc. Yet, every moment was a learning experience by Doug. If you were to ask him if he would do it all over again, he would probably reply " No, I am good. I have now taken up the habit of painting." Just kidding. Anyone looking to become an apiarist should pick up a copy of this book. Show Me the Honey is a "honey sweet" read!

[Karen Parisot · Rating 4 out of 5]

An informative book about one man’s experiences as a newbie apiarist. Dave Doroghy’s sister and brother-in-law gifted him a beehive complete with 15,000 bees. Dave lives on a houseboat on the Fraser River in Canada, not the usual location for a box filled with bees. After his award winning first harvest of honey, Dave becomes an enthusiastic bee keeper. This punny book details all his mistakes and all that he’s learned since then. It contains a lot of facts about the honeybee, about their roles in the hive, about all the different threats to their existence and why they play such a vital role in our lives. After reading about all his trials and tribulations in keeping bees, it makes me more appreciative of the honey I enjoy spread on a slice of toast or sweetening my tea.

[Jeannie Page · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve just finished reading Show Me The Honey: Adventures Of An Accidental Apiarist.
After tending hives with Dave for years, it’s clear to me he is a much better writer than bee keeper.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book!
Jeannie

[Jessica · Rating 1 out of 5]

I gave this one 100 pages and I just could not get into it. Sometimes self-deprecating writing works and sometimes it doesn't and for me this one didn't. I kept bees (unsuccessfully) before and am in the process of trying again in a new way, so I was hoping for some inspiration in this book. I just didn't like his writing style or how he was telling his beekeeping story/experience. Would not recommend.

[Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A funny and informative book on bee keeping and life in general especially in the last couple of chapters.
I enjoyed Daves bee keeping journey and learn’t a lot about bees along the way.🐝

[Wynter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so well-written! I was at once entertained and educated (as the author promised in his intro :) ). I grew up with a beekeeping father, who died before I was smart enough to ask him all the questions. This took me back to our little farm, as well as renewed my interest in one day helping out the bees wherever I may find myself.

[Lester · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a GREAT book..very informative and very humourous!!
A go to book for the beginner and a good read for the experienced.

Quotes:
"Wasps live in nests and bees live in hives. If you have a tough time recalling which is which, just do what I do and remember that "nest' rhymes with "pest'."

Speaking on neonicotinoids..("new nicotine-like insecticides")
"One of the reasons neonicotinoids are so popular is that they are easy to use-their water solubility allows for easy application in to the soil, where they are slurped up by plants. In turn, bees hungry for flower nectar drink up the pesticide. Think of it this way: every time bees go in for a sip of nectar, they have to take a deep drag on a cigarette. See, I told yo this one as not going to turn out well for the bees."

The last 4 chapters of this book were my favourites!! The 'Fly United' chapter cracked me up..but it was really cool to read the complexity of bee mating.

I am happy that I have my own Show Me The Honey book..I can lend it around and then donate it to be catalogued for our library..just in time for next spring when some folks might be considering bee-keeping activities.
Thank you so much Dave Doroghy..and all of your super helpful friends and family!

[Andrew · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the author's story of becoming an apiarist after his sister asked to leave a hive on the deck of his floating home amongst fields of flowers. The author over the next couple of years seems to have made every mistake in the book. Many of which are due to his self described lack of focus. The attempts at humor failed in my opinion leaving me thinking the author is simply an inept person not suited at to bee keeping. Those who are considering taking up the hobby should by all means read this book. I on the other hand expected a more autobiographical story of fun and entertainment rather then the misery of learning about every possible mistake you can make as an apiarist.

[Condwiramurs · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a VERY fun read. A lovely mix of fascinating and entertaining, and the speculation on all of our wireless signals contributing to Colony Collapse Disorder(?) made me feel kind of thoughtful about what these wireless signals do to US. I like my tech, I use it every day, but would I, possibly like bees, be better off with less of it in my life? Things to ponder. Now to go plant more pollinator-friendly plants.

[Heather Stein · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story is well-told and informative. The context is one of extreme privilege in Vancouver, even for Canada. It's not a working-class story.
Learned a lot both about living on a houseboat and beekeeping. Glad I read it. Chuckled aloud at the ridiculous imagery a number of times. The photo plates are especially funny. Didn't keep the copy.

[Steffanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This truly is a must read book ! Bees are so very important for all humans on our planet. To learn what Dave Doroghy teaches in his novel is vitally important for all of us to know about these tiny important creatures!
Well done, Dave!

[Marina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. Lighthearted and fun stories with a quirky take on beekeeping. I found myself laughing and learning at the same time. Highly recommend.

[Suzanne]

Great fun!
Thank you for the informative and very funny read.
I plan to add a copy to my local bee club's library!

[Leslie Zenger · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read to get introduced to the world of bees and to the world of bee keeping.
An easy read. Informative and filled with humor. Learn and Laugh.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! I learned so much from this book. I know bee keeping is not easy but this book really shows you just how delicate and difficult it really is! So much respect for those who do keep bees! ❤️🐝

[justin vandertuin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining and funny stories from a first time bee keeper. Makes me feel not so bad about my failed first attempts.

[Parker · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a fun book with great narration, and an interesting topic. Worth a read if you're interested.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very goofy

[Anne Lam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very enjoyable and informative read! Have a much greater appreciation of honeybees and nature in general. Protect the bees! We need them for our existence.

[Ashta · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good job at explaining what happens in the hive for the layperson.