The Observant Beekeeper by Paul Honigmann

The Observant Beekeeper by Paul HonigmannWhat makes this textbook stand out from others is the concise clear explanations and reasons for carrying out procedures with the pros and cons for each considered. a new beekeeper could start from scratch using only this comprehensive manual. Ann Chilcott (The Beelistener) There are number of books out there covering in part, similar topics, but its hard to find one that packs so much information into a single volume. "The Observant Beekeeper"

What makes this textbook stand out from others is the concise clear explanations and reasons for carrying out procedures with the pros and cons for each considered. ...a new beekeeper could start from scratch using only this comprehensive manual. – Ann Chilcott (The Beelistener)

There are number of books out there covering in part, similar topics, but it’s hard to find one that packs so much information into a single volume.... "The Observant Beekeeper" promises to be an indispensable reference manual for years to come. – Simon Kellam (Natural Bee Keeping Trust)

Most of the contents of Honigmann's book are not contained in any of the others... His approach is based on direct observation rather than blindly accepting what you read in books. A very practical guide... devotes space to 'reading the bees' something that has become a lost art... Lots of references and footnotes... a very thought-provoking and important book. – Norman Carreck (The Beekeepers Quarterly)

• How can you inspect a hive without opening it?
• When you do open it, how do you interpret what you see?
• And how do unmanaged bees survive without our help?

Truly seeing and understanding what is happening in a bee colony is the core skill for all beekeepers. In this comprehensive book you will learn how to ‘read’ bees’ behaviour, interpret comb clues, diagnose and deal with diseases, manage multiple hive types from framed to logs, recognise when well meant advice doesn’t apply, the tradeoffs of different management styles, and what happens when bees manage themselves.

There’s more. Information for beginners and experts alike. How to catch and use swarms – and why they don’t always behave as you expect. Races, breeding and genetics. Lost bee lore. Hive autopsies. Apiary setup. Wild bee nests. Hive variations. Treatment free strategies. Obscure behaviours. Finding queens. Honey. Propolis. Protective gear. Pitfalls of feeding. Proper use of smokers.

Paul Honigmann has been keeping bees in Top Bar Hives and Warrés for fourteen years, organises the Oxfordshire Natural Beekeepers and researches bees obsessively. This book is an expanded version of his Low Intervention training course, with details not just on how to do things, but why, and the pros and cons of alternatives.

Organised to help you find information quickly, with a logical structure, clear diagrams and troubleshooting guides for use in the apiary when you need to make rapid sense of ambiguous situations.