Honey Bee Hobbyist

A beginning apiarist’s comprehensive guide to keeping bees at home, from basic bee biology to the necessary tools, and more.

Discover the secrets of successful hobby beekeeping with advice from a world-renowned honey bee expert. Dr. Norman Gary shares his extensive beekeeping expertise in this entertaining and authoritative guide. Honey Bee Hobbyist, 2nd Edition will help you decide whether hobby beekeeping is right for you and will introduce you to all of the equipment, tools, and protective clothing you’ll need to get started.

Dr. Gary teaches you to understand bee behavior so you can relax and enjoy working with these amazing creatures. He takes you from assembling your new hive and stocking it with bees to managing a growing colony and harvesting your honey rewards. With fascinating color photographs, myth-busting insights, and never-before-published tips, this comprehensive handbook is your first step toward an enjoyable and rewarding lifelong hobby.

Inside you’ll find:Detailed, practical instructions for hobby beekeepingBasics of honey bee anatomy, behavior, and reproductionHow to use a bee smoker and safely open a hiveHow to monitor hive conditions, prevent swarming, and deal with bee diseasesEffective sting-prevention strategiesFun ways to use your beekeeping hobby for entertainment and educationUpdated information on beekeeping in urban environments

“Few people are more qualified to write a book explaining the fundamentals of bee biology and hive management than Dr. Norman Gary… This is a solid how-to book that I could recommend to any beekeeper.”—Dr. James E. Tew, The Ohio State University

“As practical as it is engaging, Honey Bee Hobbyist by University of California, Davis, entomologist Norman Gary can help you decide if backyard beekeeping is for you and how to go about it. Learn all about these important pollinators, including the intricacies of bee reproduction and society, how to use surplus honey, and why most people shouldn’t be overly afraid of a bee’s sting.”—California Bountiful Magazine