Better Beekeeping: The Ultimate Guide to Keeping Stronger Colonies and Healthier, More Productive Bees

by Kim Flottum

" Better Beekeeping is the most lucid call to action ever written about land-based beekeeping."—Tammy Horn, author of Bees in America and What Women and Bees Can Teach Us about Local Trade and the Global Market "There are numerous beekeeping books on the shelves that instruct on 'how to,' but Better Beekeeping is a book that explores 'why to,' which is essential for this ever-changing world of beekeeping today."—Jennifer Berry, research coordinator at the University of Georgia's Honey Bee Research Lab, commercial queen and nuc producer, and columnist for Bee Culture magazine Backyard beekeepers everywhere a successful colony is a thing of beauty. Thousands of beekeepers have started beekeeping thanks to Kim Flottum's first book, The Backyard Beekeeper , and they have added to their repertoire of skills with The Backyard Beekeeper's Honey Handbook . Now, Better Beekeeping answers the question, "What do I do now that I'm a beekeeper?" This book takes serious beekeepers past the beginning stages and learning curves and offers solutions and rewards for keeping bees a better way. Better queens, better winters, better food, and better bees await any beekeeper willing to take on the challenge of having the right number of bees, of the right age, in the right place, in the right condition, at the right time.

176 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2011

Reviews

[Holly · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is geared for people hoping to either support themselves with their bees, or at least use them as a profit-making small business and I'm more the eccentric hobbyist and bee lover, so I was not the targt market. Even so, I read the book hoping to gain some insights I could use. I did not "gel" well with the author's terse, borderline cranky, style of writing and I thought all his "advice" presupposed a lot of knowledge and skill and betrayed an utter intolerance for any methods other than his own. He managed to fill up tons and tons of pages, but useful information was sparse amid the plethora of words. Perhaps if I were more of a businesswoman and less of an inexperienced back-yard beekeeper, I would have gleaned more?

[Coger Ethan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book out of the suggested order. As the author mentioned Backyard Beekeeping is intended for the new beekeeper while this one is more advanced. It does assume that you'll be making the move to full time beekeeping or at least incorporating bees into your business model more fully.
If that sounds like you, give it a read. It's given me some things to keep in mind getting started that might make it easier for me to upscale my operation if I can get my two hives off the ground this year.

[Meredith May · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kim Flottum's writing blends the perfect mix of entomology and plain-speak. I have found all his books valuable, enjoyable, and funny. He has a whole shelf in my home, and that's where I go when I have a question about what the heck my bees are doing.

[Chris Andrews · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book for people just getting their toes wet with beekeeping and looking for what interests them within the field. Nothing too in-depth, but a good general book.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kim Flottum has been in the business for a very long time and has a incredible wealth of knowledge of beekeeping. He does a great job explaining some of the more advance aspects of it in this book. If you are an amateur beekeeper and are ready to turn it into a business, then this is the book for you. Full of tips and tricks on how to make your operation run smoothly, efficiently and get the most out of your girls. I recommend you have a basic understanding of bees and beekeeping before opening this book. If you are a beginner, try Kim's "The Backyard Beekeeper" book as a first step.

[Neil Shelley · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are many golden nuggets of information contained within this book. However, overall it is a book that should only be read by beekeepers who have been keeping bees for at least a few years and already know what they are doing.
Mr. Flottum can come across as "preachy" in the text. There are naturally more ways than his to keep bees and do it better.

[Tom M. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another good reference book for specific articles, but not much of a straight-forward read. This book has the feel of a being a collection of blog entries that were grouped together instead of being a deep and expanding meditation on any given subject.

[Robynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great book for anyone who wants to make a business out of beekeeping.