Library Categories
Basic Beekeeping
- Beekeeping Video Series
- Online Education
- Regional
- Bee Biology
- Basic Beekeeping Information
- Hive Inspection
- Splits, Nucs and Packages
- Swarms
- Feeding
- Winter Management
Beehive Construction - Do it yourself plans for hives and beekeeping accessories
Honey Bee Diseases and Pests - Prevention, diagnosis and treatment of all pests and diseases
- Varroa Mites- Small Hive Beetle
- Bears
- Skunks
- Wasps
- Diseases
Advanced Beekeeping - From queen rearing to commercial beekeeping management
- Queen Rearing- Commercial Beekeeping
Natural Beekeeping - Treatment free beekeeping
- Top Bar Beekeeping - From construction to maintenance of primarily the Kenyan Top Bar Hive
General Interest - A wide variety of topics from science and history to cultural
- History- Eva Crane
- Hygienic Behaviour
- Pesticides and Bees
- Products from Beekeeping
- Honey Recipes
- Native Pollinators
- Planting for Pollinators
- Bee Lining
- Webinars
- Children's Books
Apicultura (Espanol) - Todo, desde la biología hasta el mantenimiento estacional de las abejas de miel
* To search for a
specific word on this page like Varroa or Nosema you can use crtl + f on your
keyboard to bring up word search on your
browser. A very useful tool.
Getting Started
Starting Beekeeping in Ireland by Thomas Carroll
sources of additional information from an Irish centric perspective. Why did I write this eBook? The need for this book came to me when I searched for as simple and straightforward text on how to start beekeeping in Ireland. I was restarting my beekeeping here in 2015. I wanted a plain and straight to the point book which was up to date and appropriate in the Irish context. I wanted a book at a sensible price which was available in electronic format (an eBook) which I could easily and quickly download and start reading. I could not find or easily access a suitable publication to assist me and therefore decided to write the book my self to assist others who may be trying to start beekeeping... I have spent over two years researching and writing this eBook. I hope that you find it useful and helpful. I would be delighted to hear from you and to get your feedback." Tom Carroll PHD, Killenure Nursery, Ballybrittas, Co Laois. Website - Apiconsult
Canadian Best Management Practices for Honey Bee Health (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada) - "Best Management Practices (BMPs) for the honey bee industry are developed by different levels and divisions of government, various organizations, institutions and stakeholders. Content ranging from regulations for pest and disease treatment thresholds to management of colonies during pollination services are included. While in many cases these recommendations are readily available, their authors are varied and the publications are provided by diverse sources. Some recommendations will apply to the Canadian nation as a whole, while others will only relate to specific areas of the country. The BMPs discussed in this document refer to those that pertain to honey bee health. Traceability aspects like food safety, beekeeper safety and environmental safety are not included within this BMP document."
"Before leaving, I would like, dear bees, to carve my name on these leaves, blessed shrub that has taken all its sap from around your dwelling place. In its shade, I have rested from my weariness, have healed my wounds. Its horizon satisfies my desires for there I can see the heavens. Its solitude is more gentle than deep. Your friends are visiting it. You enliven it with your singing. And because you do not die, dear bees, you will sing again and for ever, in the surrounding foliage, where my spirit will rest. Thank you. E.Warré"
"... At a convenient time we raised queens and supplied swarms. But one evening, an order for 12 swarms was cancelled. I had empty hives to put them in, but I had only enough foundation for two hives. I settled for putting starters in the others as raw wax at the top of the frames, helped greatly by my knife in putting these starters in order. And I noticed that on these starters the bees constructed their combs as quickly as those on foundation and that these combs were more regular. I thus decided to continue to use only starters of raw wax and I have never come to regret it. The People's Hive was thus designed. And if small hives with frames economise on winter stores and facilitate the development of brood in spring, a hive with fixed comb will do it better because its volume is smaller: 36 litres instead of 44. We therefore designed the People's Hive with fixed comb. Now we noticed that the People's Hive with fixed combs saved an extra 3 kg of stores compared with the People's Hive with frames. We thus had two hives: the People's Hive with fixed comb, a perfect hive, but not convenient on a commercial scale because it does not allow the extractor to be used, and the People's Hive with frames, very superior to modern hives, inferior however to the People's Hive with fixed combs, but convenient for commercial use.... "
A Beginner's Guide to Beekeeping in Kenya by Thomas Carroll, Msc. (Agr.)

Both the experienced beekeeper and the novice will find a mine of useful information, guidance and suggestions in this guide, which FAO hopes will be a valuable contribution to food security and economic development in Africa.
Beekeeping Manual for Farmers in Sikkim, India by Dr. Peter Gross
"Beekeeping has been a traditional household activity in Sikkim for centuries. Rural communities
throughout the state have adopted this activity as substantial part of their sustainable livelihoods. In
Beekeeping in the Phillipines (University of the Phillipines)
community. Today, there is a cooperative of beekeepers in Sagada that seeks to encourage individuals to take up beekeeping. This Kit covers the following aspects of beekeeping, including discussions
particular to Cordillera conditions, in four sections, as follows:
Section 1: An Introduction to Beekeeping
Section 2: The Bee Farm
Section 3: Operation and Maintenance of the Bee Farm
Section 4: Pests and Diseases of Honeybees
Beekeeping (22 page overview) written by Lance Gegner of ATTRA- "This publication is intended as a guide for anyone interested in beginning or expanding a beekeeping enterprise. Whether the bees are kept as pollinators for crops or for the income from their products, producers need to be aware of their states’ apiary laws concerning inspection, registration, and permits, as well as labeling and marketing standards. Producers also need to be aware of pesticide application laws and pesticide notification laws relative to bees. Both beginning and experienced beekeepers need to consider li-ability insurance; the possibility of Africanized hybrid bees taking over the hives; and all the pests and diseases that afflict bees and their colonies."
Introductory Beekeeping Powerpoint Presentations This is an informative 8 part introduction to beekeeping developed by master beekeeper Dana Stahlman from the Ohio State Beekeeping Association that includes topics like starting a colony, diseases and pests, seasonal management, queen production and management of nucs.
The first year of beekeeping (Powerpoint) - A fairly good picture based powerpoint from Dr. Deborah Delaney of the University of Delaware which provides a brief but comprehensive description of "Hive Mangement in the First Year of Beekeeping".
1.1 Introduction: History, Langstroth equipment, hive placement (8:18 mins)
1.2 Hive and frame assembly and painting (9:29 mins)
1.3 Placement of hive, feeding and medications (9:29 mins)
2.1 Bee biology and equipment (7:38 mins)
2.2 Receiving and installing package bees (7:14 mins)
2.3 Releasing queens (6:43 mins)
2.4 Releasing queens and stings (7:05 mins)
3.1 Maturing hives and migrating hives (7:10 mins)
3.2 The brood nest (5 mins)
3.3 Our growing hives (5:49 mins)
3.4 Migrating our hives (9:18 mins)
4.1 Requeening (8 mins)
4.2 Queen Rearing (9:44 mins)
4.3 Package production beekeeping associations (9:27 mins)
5.1 Diseases and Pests (8:52 mins)
5.2 Chalkbrood, sacbrood, moths, tracheal mites (9:28 mins)
5.3 Varroa mites and queenlessness (8:35 mins)
6.1 Harvesting, processing, packaging and selling (6:45 mins)
6.2 Extracting honey (7:36 mins)
6.3 Packaging and selling honey (6:11 mins)
6.4 Commercial honey processing (6:32 mins)
7.1 Overwintering hives (6:06 mins)
7.2 Overwintering and one story hives (8:20 mins)
7.3 Second season spring management (5:30 mins)
7.4 Fall Management (4 mins)
Stewart Spinks of the Norfolk Honey Company in the UK has produced and is continuing to produce an exhaustive series of over 200 videos that cover pretty much every topic you may encounter from your initial setup (hive construction, painting, installing bees, inspecting, diseases and parasites.....) to catching swarms, shook swarms, queen rearing, overwintering, poly hives etc... "Here you will find resources to help you get started in beekeeping, learn the basic essentials for a successful first year. Gain help and advice to take you through into your second year and beyond." You can access all of the videos from the Norfolk Honey Company youtube channel.
Beekeeping Video Resources
B.C. Honey Producers Education Day Videos and Slides This is a large library of videos and slides covering every subject from overwintering 4 frame nucs to evaluating honey flavour.
Brushy Mt Bee Farm has a very large collection of educational videos on pretty much every topic of beekeeping.
Honey Bee Honey has a good selection of videos on a wide variety of topics like spring management, hive inspection and fall preparation for winter.
The folks at GardenFork have produced a series entitled Beekeeping 101 which covers a wide variety of subjects any new beekeepers should know.
A good collection of videos from David Burns at Long Lane Honey Bee Farms.
A selection of videos from the legendary Don the Fat Bee Man.
10. Bee Frames
First Year Beekeeping is presented by biologist, Randy Oliver on his website Scientific Beekeeping which is one of the best sources of beekeeping information available. "I’ve attempted to distill 50 year’s of beekeeping experience into a short set of instructions for starting out with bees in the Sierra Foothills. This page provides some quick step-by-step notes for your first year of beekeeping, written specifically for those starting with a nucleus hive or package bees purchased from me, but generally applicable. Since the vast majority of colony failures are due to lack of varroa management, I’ve covered this subject more extensively. For a summary of treatment options, scroll to the end (Randy Johnson)." As mentioned this website contains a wealth of regularly updated information on most beekeeping subjects.
At the end of the training, you will be provided a link to the quiz survey. You may also access the quiz, directly, by clicking the button or direct link below. To begin the survey, you will be required to enter your first and last names and email address. Your information and quiz results will be recorded.1 A summary of your quiz results will be provided at the end. To keep a copy of your quiz results for your own records, you may print using your computer's print-screen function.
Begin at the Beeginning:
This is an introductory beekeeping course from master beekeeper Janet Wilson which includes everything from hive components and acquiring bees to seasonal management, diseases and pests. It is written from a northwest perspective (West coast Vancouver, Coastal Washington State). It's a fairly complete beginners course with links to expert resources (i.e. Randy Oliver). "Week by week we will explore together the canon of knowledge which is Beginning Beekeeping. We will both cover the usual course outline for beginning beeks, and chat about what we are finding in our hives, and in the beeyard, at this time of year (we are beginning in mid July in the Pacific Northwest, in an unprecedentedly dry and sunny summer). The main focus of our learnings will be giving you tools to prevent colony loss. Upwards of 80% of new beekeepers quit beekeeping in under three years, likely out of frustration when their bees keep dying. Bees are precious, and expensive. So we will emphasize what it takes to keep bees alive, using lots of web content and resources."
Certificate in Beekeeping:
This is a fairly complete beginners beekeeping course from the Indira Ghandi National Open University. The course focuses on beekeeping in India with an awareness of the preference for the more productive introduced European honey bee. The course covers subjects like bee biology, beekeeping history, bee flora and pollination, seasonal management, pests and diseases, hive products and the economics of beekeeping. The course is accompanied by several manuals available to view or be downloaded from the University website.
Beginner Beekeeping Course:
This is a beginner beekeeping course from Amazing Bees in Australia which includes bee biology, rules, regulations and registration, hive inspection, honey extraction, swarming, queen replacement, winter prep and feeding. It covers most everything a new beekeeper in Australia needs to know.
Beginner Beekeeping Short Course from the Virginia Cooperative Extension.
Beekeeping Tests
The legendary master beekeeper Dana Stahlman has an online course which is being worked on at present but he has a test for the beginner, advanced and master beekeeper which are useful tools. Check it out at Gobeekeeping.
Best Management Practices for Beekeeping (Australian Government)
Asian Honey Bee Manual (Australian Government)
Easy Beekeeping for Hobbyists in New Zealand by Tudor Caradoc-Davies
This is the first of a 9 part video series, Understanding Bee Anatomy by Dr. Ian Stell
The multifunctional glands of the honey bees's head
The honey bees's eyes and vision
The remarkable brain of the bee
The honey bees's eyes and vision
Anatomy of the bee antennae
Bee metamorphosis: Remarkable internal changes
How do bees bite and suck?
The mandibles of the honey bee
The multifunctional glands of the honey bees's head
The honey bees's eyes and vision
The remarkable brain of the bee
The honey bees's eyes and vision
Anatomy of the bee antennae
Bee metamorphosis: Remarkable internal changes
How do bees bite and suck?
The mandibles of the honey bee

1. Digestive and excretory systems.
2. Circulatory, respiratory, and nervous systems.
3. Endocrine system.
4. Reproductive organs.
A Microscope Atlas of the Honey Bee (U.S.D.A.)
Basic Bee Biology and Identification (The Xerces Society)
Basic Bee Biology for Beekeepers (MAAREC)
Honey Bee Biology by Dr. Debbie Delaney (University of Delaware)
Honey Bee Biology by Rick Fell (Virginia Tech)
Biology and Anatomy of the Honey Bee by D. Lesco and T. Lulec
Biology of Bees - Hymenoptera Apoidea (Russian Academy of Sciences)
Biology of the Honey Bee (CIHEAM)
This video, "Biology of the Honey Bee" is presented by Dr. Jamie Ellis, Professor of Entomology from the University of Florida.
Videos
Bee Biology with Larrry Connor from Wicas Press
The Biology of Wintering Bees by Medhat Nasr, Provincial Apiarist, Alberta, Canada
Useful Beekeeping Websites
Beekeeping Glossary
Glossary of terms use in Beekeeping
Flow Frame Instructional Manual
Keeping a hive at someone's home written agreement
Honey and Infant Botulism by John Durkacz (S.B.A.)
Honey Bee Sting Pain Study by Michael Smith (Cornell University)
Normal and allergic reactions to insect stings
Odds of death by stings
Informative Beekeeping Websites:
Dave Cushman's website
Scientific Beekeeping (Randy Oliver)
Michael Bush's website
Bee Informed
Ohio State Beekeepers
Cooperative Extension
Virginia Cooperative Extension
Beesource
Pollinator Partnership
Xerces Society
Project Apis m.
MAAREC
Bee Culture
American Bee Journal
The BeeMD
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
It's important to have a purpose/s when inspecting a hive. Why are you inspecting and what are you looking for? An argument can be made that new beekeepers can only improve their skills by regular weekly inspections but the disruption to the colony is real and should be minimized. A beekeeper can learn a great deal by observing the entrance to the hive. The book "At the Hive Entrance" explains the value of being able to calculate a hive health by observing the outside of the hive. In this video Paul Kelly, research and apiary manager (University of Guelph, Canada), shows how to open a bee hive and in the following video he will describe what you are looking for.
A list of frequently asked questions on the University of Guelph Honey Bee Research Centre website. These videos are from University of Guelph's video series which can be found in the video series section of our Library.
The Hive Inspection - What are you looking for
and what do you see?
of flight. The rule of thumb is to smoke the bees a little and smoke them often. Give them 2 or 3
puffs of smoke in the entrance and under the lid before opening the hive. After that, giving them
1 or 2 puffs of smoke across the frames before you remove each frame will usually keep them
calm. Smoke under each box before removing it. If the bees get aggressive, put a LOT of smoke
in the air. This will mask the alarm scent and some of the bees will seek shelter inside the hive..."
Jerry Freeman, Ashley County Beekeepers Association, Arkansas.
September Inspection, Menifee County, Kentucky.
An inspection sheet helps keep things organized and allows easy comparison from one inspection to the next. It helps keep new beginners from overlooking something important. I encourage you to use one of these or one of the many available apps. As you become more experienced you will make up your own checklist that suits your needs. There are many apps and software programs for tracking your hives like Hive Tracks, BeeCloud and Beetight.
Swarm Control
Swarm Intelligence with Tom Seeley
Swarm Control: University of Guelph Honey Bee Research Centre
Swarm Catching
Swarm Traps: What you need to know to be successful (Brown's Beef and Bees)
The "Biology of Wintering Bees" by Medhat Nasr, Provincial Apiarist, Alberta, Canada.
Winter Management Webinars
Hives
Observation Hives
Parts
All Season Ventilation/Insulation Box (in place of inner cover) by Tim Arheit (Honeyrunapiaries.com)
Nucs
5. When moving the nuc you need only close off the entrance with duct tape. The bees will have plenty of ventilation from the bottom screen.
Frames
Bottom Boards and Racks
Feeders
Pollen Traps
Queens
Vacuum
Parts for Pests
Insulated Moisture Quilt
Ventilation/Insulation Box
Transporting
English translation: The large bicycle tires (57-406, 20 x 2, 125) give the sack barrow a particularly good ride suitability in uneven terrain. The wide wheelbase provides a good grip against slip of the Hives. The Prey truck for hives to max. 46 cm width. If your hives be wider than 46 cm, is only an adaptation of Pos. 1 and 2 (see Plan A) to the desired width make. The construction of the prey truck based on both a comfortable posture and on the great usability with secure stand against overturning.
Ventilation/Insulation Box
Heating and Ventilating
Elephants
Bears
A Starter's Guide for using Electric Fencing to Deter Bears by K. Annis (M.F.W.P Bear Specialist)
Honey Extraction

Hive Care
Beehive Construction Resource Websites
- A great collection of plans and videos from Steve Tilmann and the Michigan Beekeepers Association. Michigan Beekeepers Association Beekeepers Workshop Videos
- Dave Cushman's drawings of National Bee Hive Component Parts. (UK)
- DIY Hive Construction Plans and Tools from UK Beekeeping Forum.
- Plans for bee hive components from FreeWoodworkingPlan.com.
Diseases and Pests
Pests
Introduction to Varroa Mites and Integrated Pest Management from the Honey Bee Health Coalition
Varroa Population Dynamics from the UoG Honey Bee Research Centre
Tools for Varroa Management: A guide to effective varroa sampling and control
Every honey bee colony in the continental United States and Canada either has Varroa mites today or will have them within several months. Varroa mite infestation represents one of the greatest threats to honey bee health, honey production, and pollination services. When honey bee colonies are untreated
Scientific Beekeeping (Randy Oliver) Varroa Management
Biology and Control of Varroa Destructor (University of Hohenheim)
Alternative Strategies for Control of Varroa Mites in Europe (Apimondia)
Aspects of Varroa Reproduction as possible new control method by D. Anderson (Australian Government)
Mite-A-Thon "Mite-A-Thon is a tri-national effort to collect mite infestation data and to visualize Varroa infestations in honey bee colonies across North America within a two week window. All beekeepers can participate, creating a rich distribution of sampling sites in Canada, the United States, and Mexico. Their Varroa monitoring data will be uploaded to www.mitecheck.com." (from the Pollinator Partnership)
Varroa Mite Management Videos
Testing
Powdered Sugar Shake and Alcohol Wash (Honey Bee Health Coalition)
Varroa Sticky Boards (UoG Honey Bee Research Centre)
4 minute alcohol wash mite test by Randy Oliver
Randy Oliver's Varroa Model for determining mite population dynamics to help in creating a mite management strategy.
Treatment
How to use Apivar (HBHC)
How to use Formic Acid (HBHC)
How to use HopGuard (HBHC)
How to use Oxalic Acid (HBHC)
Drone Brood Removal (HBHC)
Honey Bee Health Coalition bee club presentation (powerpoint)
*HBHC = Honey Bee Health Coalition
James Ellis at the National Honey Show
Small Hive Beetle Videos
Small Hive Beetle Tips and Tricks with Jason Chrisman
Tracheal Mites
Wax Moth
Wax Moth and it's Control (Australian Government)Protection of Honey Combs from Moth Damage (Swiss Bee Research Centre)
Florid Fly
Mosquitoes
The heavy-duty straps and the heavy rocks were no match for the bear. This time he got the queen too and so many bees that there's nothing left. The bees did give a good fight as seen in the video and the bear had to retreat a few times, but it is all done. (Avner Skolnik)

How to install an electric fence (Defenders of Wildlife)
Bear Fence Test (NOLS)
*For us in North America the best control of Wasps is to catch the overwintered Queens in spring. The newly mated queens are the only members of the wasp colony to survive the winter. You can also, dressed in your beekeeping protective gear, drown an in-ground nest or bag a hanging nest early in the morning (when most of the wasps are in the nest) and submerge it in water. No toxins are required in these means of disposing of the nests or in traps described below. When using traps our wasps tend to be more attracted to protein early in the season (they are feeding their brood) and sugar from late summer to fall. Add vinegar to the sugar solution in your traps to deter the bees. To help protect our hives we reduce our entrances in late summer when the wasps leave their nests to forage so that the hive is easier to defend. If the wasps gain entrance to the hive a robber screen is a useful defense.
Yellowjacket species build nests below the soil in mouse burrows or in similar sites, also between walls or in the attics of houses. Worker yellowjackets rear and feed the brood and also forage for food. The queen remains inside the nest laying eggs. Colonies expand rapidly and may total up to 5,000 workers when maximum size is attained in August or September. In the fall, inseminated queens seek sheltered spots for overwintering. Yellowjackets eat bee brood, rob honey, and sometimes kill the queen or the colony. Weak colonies are especially susceptible. In general, yellowjackets become pests of honeybees in late summer through fall and are more serious pests in dry years."
Skunks
Skunks can be a problem for beekeepers though they are usually not a major threat and fairly easy to deter (like most issues a bigger threat to weaker colonies). They are nocturnal visitors and evidence of their presence can be detected in ground scraping in front of the entrance, scraping on the bottom board or lower super, agitated bees, shrinking population, holes (they like to dig for grubs) and scat containing bee carcasses (Evidence of skunks in the beeyard - Ian Steppler) . The skunks may be a benefit to you and your bees by digging up and preying on wasp nests and rodents (that may winter in the hive). Their M.O. (modus operandi) is to scratch on the hive to bring bees out to investigate which they eat as they exit the hive. A small percentage of skunks will scratch on the hive and eat the bees as they settle on the ground unable to navigate in the dark (lower bee fatality - Skunk feeding on ground bees (Frederick Dunn)).
There are several methods of skunk defense. Raising the hive (12 inches or more) forces the skunk to stand leaving their belly exposed to stinging. This method is effective. In the video above Ian Steppler found placing the hives on pallets effective. If possible raising it high enough makes the hive inaccessible. Raising a hive that high is not a practical solution for most. Another method is placing a 2-4 inch wide board over the hive entrance. This method prevents the skunk eating all the bees exiting the hive. The bees not caught will commence stinging. Chicken wire (rolled or surrounding) around the entrance prevents the skunk eating them as they exit. A carpet tack board or bear board under the hive entrance makes for an uncomfortable stance. If you have an electric fence lowering the bottom wire (or adding) is effective and if you have few hives a fence buried at least a foot deep can be effective (they love to dig). Solar powered motion detectors may work if you have the money, the sun and are not annoyed by the sound or flashing light. I have found store bought animal repellent works on squirrels and rats for me. It is supposed to work on skunks. The concept is that it replicates the smell of a predator (i.e. coyote urine). There are several d.i.y recipes for deterrent sprays using pepper, urine, vinegar and ammonia and citrus (D.I.Y Recipes). While they can be a nuisance and washing a skunked dog is a pain a mother skunk followed by a string of baby skunks is pretty cute.
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Connecticut Wildlife Rehabilitators Association |
Skunk Behavior in the Bee Yard (Mark Headings, Ohio State University)
Nosema
Foulbroods
Chalkbrood
Deformed Wing Virus
Dysentery
CCD
Pathogen Webs in Collapsing Honey Bee Colonies (N.C. State, U. of Maryland, U.S.D.A)
"On-site" Replication of CCD (Harvard, Worcester County B.A.)
"Hygienic honeybee colonies are those in which dead and diseased brood is
rapidly removed from the
colony, thereby reducing the amount of inoculum present. Hygienic
behaviour is a trait present in
about 20% of Australian honeybee colonies. Some researchers claim that
highly hygienic colonies are
strongly resistant to the major diseases of honeybees including American
and European foul brood,
Chalk brood and Sac brood. Hygienic bees are also claimed to be
resistant to the parasitic mite
Varroa. Hygienic behaviour is usually measured by using liquid nitrogen
to freeze-kill a small patch
of brood. Hygienic colonies uncap and remove the dead brood within 24
hours whereas this process
takes several days with non-hygienic colonies. The first studies of hygienic behaviour were conducted in the 1960s.
Walter Rothenbuhler crossed a
strongly hygienic line with a strongly non-hygienic line. The resulting
F1 colonies were not hygienic.
Rothenbuhler then raised daughters off an F1 queen backcrossed these to
drones of the hygienic
parent. He then evaluated these colonies for hygienic behaviour. The
pattern of expression of hygienic
behaviour among these backcross colonies suggested that the trait was
controlled by two separate
genes, one that controlled uncapping behaviour, the other which
controlled removal behaviour."
Medications and Stress
Essential Oils
Brief Beekeeping guide to Essential Oils (Wikibooks)
The Use of Essential Oils to Control Varroa Jacobsoni (Swiss Apiculture Institute)
Essential Oils and the Beekeeping Industry's Survival by Ross Conrad
Feeding Essential Oils in Syrup and Liquid Protein to Control Varroa (IBRA)
The Use of Essential Oils to Control Varroa Jacobsoni (Swiss Apiculture Institute)
Essential Oils and the Beekeeping Industry's Survival by Ross Conrad
Feeding Essential Oils in Syrup and Liquid Protein to Control Varroa (IBRA)
General
Why should parasite resistance be costly? (U.C. Santa Barbara and U. of Vermont)![]() |
Hygienic bees removing infested larvae |
Comparative study of the hygienic behavior of Carniolan and Africanized honey bees (U. of Sao Paulo)
Fat Bees Skinny Bees - a manual on honey bee nutrition for beekeepers by Doug Somerville (Australian Government). This publication provides information on the known essential chemical requirements of honey bees including the components of nectar and pollen. Pollens with a protein level around 25% or greater have been recognised as excellent quality pollens, those less than 20% have been described as of a poor quality. Australia has had more pollens analysed than any other country, and for the first time all of the profiles of the analysis are presented, representing 183 species. There is some evidence that pollens from the same genus, i.e., closely related plants, exhibit similar nutritional values in regards to pollen chemical composition. Lack of nectar or stored honey presents the beekeeper with various sets of problems. These scenarios are discussed with the most appropriate course of action. Likewise, lack of pollen or poor quality pollen creates its own set of problems, often exacerbated by the stimulus of a nectar flow. How to recognise the need to provide pollen supplement and the circumstances which may lead a beekeeper to invest in this practice are discussed. Some facts about honey bee nutrition include; nectar flows stimulate hygienic behaviour; total protein intake is what should be considered, not so much the individual chemical properties of individual pollens; fats in pollen act as strong attractants to foraging bees, although increasing concentrations in pollen limit brood rearing; vitamins are very unstable and deteriorate in stored pollen; principal cause of winter losses is starvation, not cold...
Honey Bee Nutrition by Eric Mussen (UC Davis)
Honey Bee Nutrition by Zachery Huang (Michigan State U.)
Honey Bee Nutrition - Review of Research and Practices by J. Black (Australian Government)
Honey (not sugar) constituents up-regulate immunity and detoxification genes in Honey Bees (University of Illinois)
The Benefits of Pollen to Honey Bees (University of Florida)
Considerations in Selecting Sugars for feeding to Honey Bees by R. Barker (U.S.D.A)
Feeding Bees Pollen Substitute by Dr. E. Mussen (UC Davis)
Honey Substitution Chart for Feeding Bees (National Honey Board)
Nutrition Section of Scientific Beekeeping (Randy Oliver) which includes studies on a variety of topics like light or heavy syrup?; probiotics; beebread; pollen substitutes and more.
Bee Feeding Recipes by Cass Cohenour
Recipe for a Pollen Substitute (Scottish Beekeepers Association)
Pollen Substitute Patties by DC Honeybees
Adding Sugar Bricks to Beehives from Mud Songs.
Feeders
Feeder Types from Brushy Mt Bee Farm.
Pollinators
Native Bee Identification
Humble (Bumble) Bees
Conserving
Bumble Bees: Guidelines for creating and managing habitat (The Xerces Society)
Mason Bees
Stingless Bees
The Stingless Bees of the Yucatan: Preserving Mayan Meliponiculture by Diana Cohn
Making Native Bee Homes
Farming with Native Bees
Quality of commercially reared bees in Eastern Australia by J. W. Rhodes
Managing Honey Bee Populations for Greater Honey Yield by Morris Ostrofsky
The Release of ARS Russian Honey Bees in the U.S.
Queens for Pennies by Randy Oliver (scientificbeekeeping.com)
This video is from Ian Steppler of Steppler Farms in Miami (the colder version), Manitoba. Check out "A Canadian Beekeeper's Blog" for more videos on commercial beekeeping.
Tom Repas of Canyon Rim Honey Bees demonstrates Queen Bee Raising from grafting to mating.
Basic Microscopy for Beekeepers by Christina Wahl (Cornell College)
Crop Pollination Exposure to Pesticides increases Nosema Ceranae (U.S.D.A)
Crop Pollination Exposure to Pesticides increases Nosema Ceranae (U.S.D.A)
Economics
Pollination and Cut-Out Contracts
Websites
Contacts:
Morphometrics - A system of measuring morphological characteristics to determine honey bee type. The CHBRC laboratory analyzes samples nationwide in an effort to provide vital information on the migration of Africanized honey bees.
Software:
BK-Economics - BK-Economics is a software package that was developed by a team of scientists at the Carl Hayden Bee Research Center in Tucson, Arizona to assist commercial beekeepers in streamling their business practices. This software allows beekeepers to simulate years of business, taking into account factors like equipment purchases, labor force, transportation, marketing strategies, loans, honey flow, and other hive products without taking the usual risks. This software, when used in combination with the marketing strategy information in publication, can help beekeepers formulate a successful business plan when making financial decisions, expanding an operation or just starting out.
Varroa Pop - Varroa Pop simulates the growth of Varroa mite population in honey bee colonies. The program demonstratres how Varroa mites influence colony population growth throughout the year. You can change many factors through the menus in the model such as the initial population size, queen egg laying potential, and mite reproduction rates, so you can see how these factors influence both colony and mite population growth. We hope that the model will help you understand the interactions between the honey bee and mite populations and provide insights on how best to control Varroa in colonies.
Redapol - Developed by Gloria DeGrandi-Hoffman et al. A computer-based model simulating the interactions of weather, bloom and honey bee foraging activity that culminate in 'Delicious' apple fruit-set. The model predicts the percentage of blossoms setting fruit based upon weather conditions, orchard design, tree characteistics, and honey bee colonies per hectare. Now available in a complete archive (.ZIP file).
Almopol - ALMOPOL is a web-based model that is used to investigate the relationship between the many variables encountered in pollinating almonds by using Honeybees or Osmia. This program gives you full control over your model of your orchards, your scenarios, your weather, and your model parameters. When you first get started, you will define your orchards and then you can start running scenarios.
WebBeePop - A honey bee population dynamics simulation model.
Honey Money - Honey cost of production calculator produced by the Australian Government to assist beekeepers to assess the cost of production and profitability in a honeybee enterprise.
Mini Honey Money - Produced by the Australian Government to monitor cost of production and profitability.

Bees in Decline: Factors that put European Pollinators and Agriculture at risk (Greenpeace)
Bees in the Green Movement by Dr. James Tew (Auburn University)
The Honey Bee - Interesting Facts
Honey Bees in House Walls (Ohio State University)
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Beekeeping shown in the tomb of Pabasa (Egypt c. 650 BC) |
The value of bees in ancient Egypt
The World History of Beekeeping and Honey Hunting by Eva Crane

Historical Beekeeping Videos
Beekeeping and Honey Production 1920's (5 mins)
Magical Beehive Story (Dance) from the early 1900's (2:30 mins)
1925 - Bijenmarkt (Bee Market) Veenendaal, Netherlands Hand slapping and dogs (3 mins)
1927 - New York - Girl tends to her Langstroth Bee Hive (2 mins)
1931 - Bee Market, Tilburg, Netherlands Pipe smokers (1 min)
1930's - Dutch Bee Market Skeps (10 mins)
1933 - The Keeper of the Bees Commercial (2 mins)
Thirties Beekeeping Part 1 Oldies but goodies (6:27 mins)
Thirties Beekeeping Part 2 Oldies but goodies (5:52 mins)
Thirties Beekeeping Part 3 Oldies but goodies (6:59 mins)
Thirties Beekeeping Part 4 Oldies but goodies (4:28 mins)
Thirties Beekeeping Part 5 Oldies but goodies (7:43 mins)
Het Bijenvolk The Bee Community (Dutch) (25 mins)
Beekeeping on the Move 1947 Australia (10 mins)
1948- British Transparent Bee Hive Observation (1 min)
1956 - Lassie - The Bee Hive (24 mins)
1961 Bee Research Foraging (3 mins)
1965 - Bees for Export British (1 min)
Origins and Evolutionary History of the Honey Bee (58 mins)
Women in Beekeeping History (5 mins)
Bee Smokers Smokers (36:49 mins)
Het Bijenvolk The Bee Community (Dutch) (25 mins)
Beekeeping on the Move 1947 Australia (10 mins)
1948- British Transparent Bee Hive Observation (1 min)
1956 - Lassie - The Bee Hive (24 mins)
1961 Bee Research Foraging (3 mins)
1965 - Bees for Export British (1 min)
Origins and Evolutionary History of the Honey Bee (58 mins)
Women in Beekeeping History (5 mins)
Bee Smokers Smokers (36:49 mins)
Africanized Honey Bees
Bees of the World
The Pollinator Elements of the Sikkim Himalayan Region by K. Singh, K. Gaira and L. Rai
Bee Science
Predator Effects Shape Honey Bee Dancing (University of Calilfornia)The Main Driver in Aging in Long-Lived Winter Honey Bees
Altered Physiology of Honey Bees Infested with Varroa
Alternative Strategies in Central Europe for Control of Varroa
Methods for Characterising subspecies of Apis Mellifera (IBRA)
Ecological Adaptations of Diverse Honey Bee populations (U.B.C. and Agr-Food Canada)
Mating between Apis Cerana and Apis Mellifera in Australia (Australian Government)
Polyandry (multiple mates) in Honey Bees (H. Laidlaw and R. Page)
The Impact of Polyandry and Drifting on Honey Bee Genetics (P. Neumann)
Drifting Behavior of Honey Bees and the effect of AFB
Factors influencing Honey Bee Queen Drifting (Apidologie.org)
Honey Bee Ability to Identify Colors White and Blue (Alexander Komissar)
Bee Science Websites
USDA Research Centre
Phys Org bee related studies
USDA Research Centre
Bats (a bees friend)
A Thomas Seeley lecture on Bee Hunting
"In his new book, Following the Wild Bees (Princeton University Press), biologist Thomas Seeley, a world authority on honey bees, vividly describes the history and science behind a lost pastime: bee hunting. Once practiced widely but little known today, the tradition involves capturing and feeding honey bees, then releasing and following them back to their secret residences in hollow trees, old buildings or abandoned hives. Providing both practical tips and new insights into the remarkable behavior of bees living in the wild, Dr. Seeley’s book also offers a unique meditation on the pleasures of the natural world. As more people become aware of the essential role that honeybees play in our global agroecosystem, in Following the Wild Bees readers will find an excellent guide for learning an old craft and experiencing the rich insights gleaned from close observation of the teeming activity found in our everyday environment outdoors." From the Albert R. Mann Library
Thomas Seeley is the Horace White Professor in Biology in the Department of Neurobiology and Behavior at Cornell and the author of three previous books: Honeybee Ecology (1985, Princeton), The Wisdom of the Hive (1995, Harvard), and Honeybee Democracy (2010, Princeton).
Bee Hunting by John Lockard (1908)
Beehunting - A selection of 4 bee hunting videos that accompany the book "Follow the Wild Bees" by Thomas Seeley (1. Finding wild honey bees 2. Capturing bees 3. Marking 4. Following).
An Introduction to Bee Lining by D. Banks and D. Waterhouse
Bee-Lining as a Research Technique in Ecological Study of Honey Bees by Thomas Seeley
Bees in the Forest, Still by Tom Seeley
The Bee Hunter by George Edgell (l949)
Bee lining - from the University of Arkansas
A series of 8 videos on Bee Lining (including building a bee box)
Thomas Seeley demonstrating bee hunting in the field.
Bee Hunting: Finding a Wild Colony of Honey Bees (from Charles Walcott)
"One method of locating a colony of wild bees is called bee lining. In this video, we will join Prof. Tom Seeley as he tries to locate a wild colony of bees. He catches bees foraging on goldenrod and aster, feeds them concentrated sugar solution and determines the direction that they fly as they return to their colony. By painting identifying marks on some bees, he is able to measure their round trip time to get an estimate of the distance to the colony. With direction and distance established, he moves closer. Then, watching the bees, sees that they are living in a dead tree."

Amerindian honey hunting and hive beekeeping by Eva Crane
Amerindian uses of honey, wax and brood from stingless bees by Eva Crane
Ancient Apiculture by Eva Crane
Bee Hives of the Ancient World Part 1 by Eva Crane
Bee Hives of the Ancient World Part 2 by Eva Crane
Bee shelters and bee boles in Cumbria by Eva Crane
Charles Darwin and bees by Eva Crane
Early English Beekeeping up to the end of the Norman period 1135 AD by Eva Crane
English beekeeping 1200-1850 by Eva Crane
A Survey of English beekeeping in 1086 by Eva Crane
History of beekeeping in English gardens Part 1 by Eva Crane
History of beekeeping in English gardens Part 2 by Eva Crane
Honey past, present and future by Eva Crane
Honeydew sources and their honeys by Eva Crane
Owen Thomas beekeeper and skep maker in the eighteenth century by Eva Crane
Physical properties, flavour and aroma of some honeys by Eva Crane and Penelope Walker
The shape, construction and identification of traditional hives by Eva Crane
The world's beekeeping past and present by Eva Crane
Traditional Bee Management as a basis for beekeeping development in the Tropics by Eva Crane et al
Traditional beekeeping in Vietnam by Eva Crane
Winter bee houses and cellars (history) by Eva Crane and Penelope Walker
The World History of Beekeeping and Honey Hunting by Eva Crane
"This book is the first book to explore in detail the world history of man’s use of bees from prehistoric times to the present day. It gathers together a vast amount of information in an eminently readable text. From archaelogical evidence about bee hives in Ancient Egypt to the Maya people of Mesoamerica who kept stingless bees, Dr Crane recognieses the variations in methods and yet there are some uncanny similarities. It wasn't until the 1600 that beekeeping techniques started to change in Europe, which culminated in 1851 with L L Langstroth's moveable frame hives being produced in the USA. The subsequent changes in beekeeping, based on scientific knowledge, brings the history up to date. There are over 500 illustrations and extensive bibliographies and appendices." IBRA Here is a preview of this amazing book. The World History of Beekeeping and Honey Hunting.
Bee Hives of the Ancient World Part 2 by Eva Crane
Bee shelters and bee boles in Cumbria by Eva Crane
Charles Darwin and bees by Eva Crane
Early English Beekeeping up to the end of the Norman period 1135 AD by Eva Crane
English beekeeping 1200-1850 by Eva Crane
A Survey of English beekeeping in 1086 by Eva Crane
History of beekeeping in English gardens Part 1 by Eva Crane
History of beekeeping in English gardens Part 2 by Eva Crane
Honey past, present and future by Eva Crane
Honeydew sources and their honeys by Eva Crane
Owen Thomas beekeeper and skep maker in the eighteenth century by Eva Crane
Physical properties, flavour and aroma of some honeys by Eva Crane and Penelope Walker
The shape, construction and identification of traditional hives by Eva Crane
The world's beekeeping past and present by Eva Crane
Traditional Bee Management as a basis for beekeeping development in the Tropics by Eva Crane et al
Traditional beekeeping in Vietnam by Eva Crane
Winter bee houses and cellars (history) by Eva Crane and Penelope Walker
The World History of Beekeeping and Honey Hunting by Eva Crane

"Apart from her authoritative and well-researched books, Eva Crane wrote many articles and texts for lectures. She kept a numbered list of all her publications, in chronological order, adding a letter for late additions, e.g. 004a, but the list does not include her many signed/unsigned editorials and short features in Bee World. She also filed a paper copy of each published article and unpublished typescript (many amended by hand).
The list below, which is based on this collection, contains 375 entries. Many of these have been scanned and wherever possible they will be uploaded and accessible via this web site. The following (marked * in the list) were not scanned: non-beekeeping articles (pre-1945, labelled A-O); books; very long chapters in books; and a few articles missing from the collection. All pre-1989 publications are believed to be out of copyright, but we have attempted to contact publishers for permission to upload the scans available to view, whatever the date."
Individual Studies
fungicides and two herbicides) were identified in 72 of the 107 trapped pollen samples, while residues of at least one of 17 pesticides (including nine insecticides / acaricides and eight fungicides) were identified in 17 of the 25 samples of comb pollen (beebread).
Implications of High Levels of Miticides and Pesticides in North American Apiaries (Penn State University and the U.S.D.A.) - "Honey bees across North America are extensively exposed to multiple pesticides. Brood nest wax and foundations, beebread and trapped pollen, and adult bees and brood comprising 749 samples contained 118 different pesticides and metabolites, 4894 total residues of which 748 were systemics, and averaged 6.5 detections per sample. In the 259 wax samples (Table 1) 87 pesticides and metabolites were found with up to 39 different detections in a single sample, averaging 8 different pesticide residues each. In the 350 pollen samples analyzed (Table 2), 98 pesticides and degradates were identified, with up to 31 different pesticides found in a single sample, and samples averaged 7.1 different pesticide residues each. The analysis of bees resulted in fewer detections (Table 3), and
averaged 2.5 residues per each of the 140 samples, with a maximum of 25 in one sample. Only one of the wax, three pollen and 12 bee samples had no detectable pesticides."
4 Common Pesticides highly toxic to Honey Bee Larvae (Penn State University and University of Florida) - Four Common Pesticides, Their Mixtures and a Formulation Solvent in the Hive Environment Have High Oral Toxicity to Honey Bee Larvae. "The current study demonstrates the chronic oral and mixture toxicity of common pesticides at hive levels to honey bees at the larval stage. Most notable are the chronic larval toxicities of the fungicide chlorothalonil and its synergistic combinations with frequently used in-hive miticides, and the unexpected high toxicity of the formulation ingredient N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone."
Impact of Neonicotinoid exposure on colony performance and Queen Supersedure (University of Zurich, Swiss Bee Research Centre, University of Berne and the University of Reading) - Impact of Chronic Neonicotinoid Exposure on Honeybee Colony Performance and Queen Supersedure. "In line with a recent meta-analysis [44], our results clearly indicate that neonicotinoids negatively impact on honeybee colony performance after chronic sublethal exposure throughout two brood cycles."
Pesticide Exposure Increases susceptibility to Nosema (U.S.D.A., University of Maryland and the University of California) - Crop Pollination Exposes Honey Bees to Pesticides Which Alters Their Susceptibility to the Gut Pathogen Nosema ceranae. "Our results combined with several recent studies of specific pesticides’ effects on Nosema infection dynamics [13–15] indicate that a detrimental interaction occurs when honey bees are exposed to both pesticides and Nosema."
Interactions between Nosema and neonicotinoids weakens honey bees (INRA - Europe's top agricultural research institute) - "We demonstrated that the interaction between the microsporidia Nosema and a neonicotinoid (imidacloprid) significantly weak-ened honeybees."
Exposure to Neonicotinoids effects learning and memory in Honey Bees (Newcastle University, UK) - "The experiments reported here show that prolonged exposure to field-realistic concentrations of the neonicotinoid imidacloprid and the organophosphate acetylcholinesterase inhibitor coumaphos and their combination impairs olfactory learning and memory formation in the honeybee."
Parasite-Insecticide interaction (Clermont University and CNRS)

Videos
Third generation Ontario beekeeper's story
Conclusions drawn from multiple studies
Clothianidin adversely effects insect immunity - Neonicotinoid clothianidin adversely affects insect immunity and promotes replication of a viral pathogen in honey bees.
Pesticide Exposure reduces foraging success and survival in Honey Bees - "As Henry et al.’s experiments so elegantly demonstrate, there is no question that dietary thiamethoxam harms honey bee colonies by ele-vating the mortality of adult foragers through navigation failure, at least when the entire daily intake of a forager is consumed in a single dose."
Sublethal doses of a neonicotinoid pesticide and pathogens interact to elevate honey bee mortality - "Through fully crossed experiments in which treatments were administered singly or in combination, we found an additive interaction between BQCV and thiacloprid on host larval survival, likely because the pesticide significantly elevated viral loads."
Combined Pesticide Exposure severely effects Bees - "Here we show that chronic exposure of bumblebees to two pesticides (neonicotinoid and pyrethroid) at concentrations that could approximate field-level exposure impairs natural fora-ging behaviour and increases worker mortality leading to signi-ficant reductions in brood development and colony success."
Low dose pesticides effects on Bees - "At the end of the experiment, the hives with the bees that had eaten the imidacloprid in the lab weighed 8% to 12% less than the 25 untreated hives—an indication that the bees had gathered less food and produced fewer workers."
Neonicotinoids - Our Toxic Countryside - "How was all of this allowed to happen? How did the pesticide companies manage to poison most of the world’s arable landscapes and kill close to 10 million bee colonies as well as countless myriads of other insects and birds? The answer is their profits buy ‘influence’. More than $1 billion a year from Imidacloprid alone – and possibly $20 billion since 1992 – has enabled them, it is believed, to bully, bribe, coerce, co-opt and persuade the governments, regulators and universities of the developed world as well as national beekeeping associations including our own BBKA."
Neonic effect on Honey bees - "So the disruption to the neurological signalling of honey bees by Neonicotinoids means that they become disorientated. The chemicals impair their communication, homing and foraging ability, flight activity, olfactory discrimination (smell is also vital to bees communication systems), and learning, and a weakened immune system."
Pesticides and honey bees (State of the Science 2012 PAN) - “The weight of evidence demonstrates that pesticides are indeed key in explaining honey bee declines, both directly and in tandem with the other two leading factors, pathogens and poor nutrition.”
Are Neonicotinoids killing Bees? (Xerces) - A Review of Research into the Effects of Neonicotinoid Insecticides on Bees, with Recommendations for Action.
Bee Health The Role of Pesticides (Congress) - "The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reports that overwinter colony losses from 2006 to 2011 averaged more than 32% annually. This report provides a listing of the range of possible factors thought to be negatively affecting managed and wild bee populations. In addition to pesticides, other identified factors include bee pests and diseases, diet and nutrition, genetics, habitat loss and other environmental stressors, and beekeeping management issues, as well as the possibility that bees are being negatively affected by cumulative, multiple exposures and/or the interactive effects of each of these factors. Briefly summarizes readily available scientific research and analysis regarding the potential role of pesticides among the factors affecting the health and well-being of bees, as well as the statutory authority and related regulatory activities of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) related to pesticide use."

Roundup (Glyphosate)
GMO's
General Planting Guides
*Your ability to grow a specific plant is not based on the country you live in but on the plant hardiness. The world is divided into plant hardiness zones which can be seen on the maps below. Though you should be able to grow any plants from your hardiness zone you are encouraged to grow native plants.
Pollinator Planting for Farms
Planting for Pollinators in the U.S.
Planting for Pollinators in Canada
Planting for Pollinators throughout the World
Healthy Beekeeping by Kirk Webster
The best kept secret revisited by Kirk Webster
A list of publications by Professor Thomas Seeley since the l970's.
Natural Beekeeping Videos
Michael Bush Treatment-free Beekeeping (8 mins)
Dee Lusby Organic Beekeeping (27 mins)
Thomas Seeley Following Wild Bees (50 mins)
The Warre Hive David Heaf (27 mins)
Natural Beekeeping (Preventing CCD) Jacqueline Freeman (10:20 mins)
Revealing the inside of the Sun Hive Heidi Herrmann (11 mins)
The Sun Hive (Haengekorb) Sun Hive (10:01 mins)
Perone Hive Natural Beekeeping (12 mins)
Natural Beekeeping Websites:

Here is a list of writings on natural beekeeping by Kirk Webster over the last 20 years and a number of the videos he has created on natural beekeeping.
Philip Chandler's Top Bar website, Biobees and Warre Biobees is a good source of information including his youtube channel which includes topics like top bar hive setup, spring check, converting frames to topbars, top bar feeders, ecofloors and more.
The Warre Store has a lot of information relating to Warre beekeeping. There is a new beekeeper page, a Warre beekeeping information page and a Warre hive video tutorial page.
Kirk Webster
Natural Beekeeping Trust
Ed and Dee Lusby
Resistant Bees
David Heaf's Warre Beekeeping Pages and a list of published papers on the science behind natural beekeeping provided by David Heaf in the Natural Beekeeping Trust.
Natural Beekeeping Forum
Organic Beekeepers Forum
Top Bar Beekeeping
Top Bar Hives
Standard Top Bars for the Beekeeper (TJ Carr and John Bradford)
Keeping Bees in Top Bar Hives (Les Crowder and Heather Harrell)
An analysis of the KTB Hive in Calgary, Alberta (Calgary Beekeepers Association)
The Top Bar Hive in Commercial Beekeeping and Research (Dr. W.A. Mangum)
Comparison of TBH vs Langstroth Hives (Chantal Forster)
Beekeeping with Top Bar Hives (Wikibooks)
Top Bar Hives Questions and Answers
The Kenyan Top Bar Hive Explained
Comparison- Vertical to Horizontal Top Bar Hive
The Vertical Top Bar Hive (Warre Hive)
Building a Better Beehive with Les Crowder by Robert Gerard
Sustainable Beekeeping with Top Bar Hives (Robin Morris)
Top Bar Hive in East Senegal (B.F.D.)
Using local style and Top Bar Hives in Uganda (BFD)
17th Century Ceramic Top Bar Hives (H. Harissis and G. Mavrofridis)
Kenyan Top Bar Hive Management
The Appropriate Beehive: An Introduction to Top Bar Beekeeping by Marty Hardison
This hive is called by a number of names: the David hive, the Kenya hive, or simply the frameless movable comb topbar hive. These hives were designed for use in Third World development projects. The David hive was developed by an Israeli apiculturalist, 1. Linder, for use in Senegal, Africa. The Kenya hive was developed by two English beekeepers, E. J. Tredwell and P. Paterson. It was designed for use in Kenya, Africa. (Sperling:1980, p. 285.) Both of these situations lack the kind of material and monetary resources that facilitate Langstroth
beekeeping. But I believe that their necessity has been mother to a great invention. The topbar hive is an appropriate technology tool for beekeeping. It's not an inefficient primitive instrument nor is it a high cost convenience. It lies somewhere in the middle. It operates by the same discovery that enabled the Langstroth hive - the bee space. In this hive independent movable combs are suspended from carefully sized topbars. The topbars are the precise width that once a comb is build on one· the bee space between that comb and the next is preserved. The combs are built entirely by the bees.
Basic Beekeeping Manual by Pam Gregory - Top Bar Hives (Africa)
This is a 2
volume publication written by Pam Gregory with assistance of Gay Marris
of the U.K. National Bee Unit (FERA) that concentrates on top bar hive
beekeeping, but many of the techniques and ideas can also be used by
traditional and frame hive beekeepers. "This field manual is designed
for use by field-based trainers in sub Saharan Africa. It is based on
colour pictures with few words. The manual covers basic techniques
needed to start a beekeeping business. It also offers some new ideas to
help beekeepers to become independent by making their own equipment from
local materials. I hope that this will help people to start beekeeping
at an affordable cost, and maybe to experiment with new materials. The
pictures show some of the many different ways that people keep bees.
This is intended to promote discussion and shared experiences to help
people to solve problems locally. The manual concentrates on top bar
hive beekeeping but many of the techniques and ideas can also be used by
traditional and frame hive beekeepers." The Advanced Beekeeping Manual covers more advanced management techniques and problem solving and offers some ideas about how to tackle them. The Swahili language version of this manual.
Top Bar Beekeeping in New Zealand - When talking to professional bee keepers about Top Bar hive's don't be put off if they look at you blankly. Most bee keepers have not heard of this way of keeping bees and indeed Top Bar hives are not an option for a professional bee keeper as the honey production is not as high as with a conventional hive. These hives are becoming more and more popular in the UK and America, where people are looking for a more natural and cheaper way of keeping bees. A great website to start your research is Phillip Chandlers Biobees (www.biobees.com). You can also buy his book The Barefoot Beekeeper which describes the management and care of a Top Bar hive based on his U.K. Experience.
Top Bar Hive Management (Tanya Philips - beefriendlyaustin.com)
Top Bar Beekeeping in Alaska (Stephen Petersen, toklatapiaries.weebly.com)
Beekeeping with Top Bar Hives (Nicola Bradbear and Gladstone Solomon BFD)
Top Bar Hive - Essential Management (sparkybeegirl.com)
Beekeeping Training Manual (Top Bar, Zambia, W.C.S.)
Better Beekeeping in Top Bar Hives by Pam Gregory (B.F.D.)
Things that can go wrong with Top Bar Hives by Pam Gregory (B.F.D.)
Top Bar entrances and roofs by Pam Gregory (B.F.D.)
Sample simple 32 bar Top Bar Hive Inspection Form (beepods.com)
Simple 32 bar Top Bar Inspection Form (beepods.com)
Top Bar Hive Inspection Diagram (Christy Hemenway)
How to introduce bees to a Top Bar Hive by Phil, Norm and Gary at biobees.com
How to install a package of bees into a Top Bar Hive (goldstarhoneybees.com)
Video - Installing a Package of Bees in a KTBH (Wyatt Mangum)
Video - Inspecting the installed package of bees on the third day (Wyatt Mangum)
Moving Bees from a frame to a Top Bar Hive (Philip Chandler)
Installing a Langstroth Nuc into a Top Bar Hive
Choosing a site, making a hive stand and attracting bees (BFD)
Video - Top Bar Hive Inspection (honeybeesonline.com)
Video - Comb Management Part 1 (learningbeekeeping.com)
Video - Comb Management Part 2 (learningbeekeeping.com)
Top Bar Hive Ventilation (T.J Carr and John Bradford)
Video - How to Make a KTBH Feeder (Philip Chandler biobees.com)
Mite Management of Top Bar Hives by Randy Oliver (scientificbeekeeping.com)
Harvesting honey from a Top Bar Hive (Howland Blackiston)
How to Harvest Honey from a Top Bar Hive (Pam Gregory)
A trapezoidal frame adapted for centrifugal extraction (B.F.D.)
Winterizing your Top Bar Hive (backyardhive.com)
Winter in a Top Bar Hive (Christy Hemenway)
Video - Winterize your Top Bar Hive (goldstarhoneybees.com)
Video - Minnesota Cold Winterizing your KTBH (Pine City Apiary)
Dividing Top Bar Hives in Ethiopia (BFD)
Facts about a frame for the Kenyan Top Bar Hive (Stanley Mboboa, Kenya)
*BFD = Bees For Development (beesfordevelopment.org)
Top Bar Hive Construction
The Calgary Top Bar Hive: For Northern Climates (Calgary Beekeepers Association)
The CTBH features an IPM screened bottom, and is partitionable for the purpose of running a 2 queen colony, queen rearing or hiving a swarm. It is also interoperable with Langstroth equipment and can be expanded using Langstroth honey supers. This hive is an indirect result of my analysis of using Top Bar Hives in Calgary. This hive improves upon current offerings by being specifically designed for a northern climate, while still acknowledging the simplicity of design fundamental to the original Kenyan Top Bar Hive.
How to Build a Top Bar Hive (Philip Chandler - biobees.com)
Building a Top Bar Hive (beekeepingnaturally.com)
Crowder Top Bar Hive Plans (Les Crowder)
Crowder style Top Bar Mating Nuc
Drawings for a Top Bar Hive with Window (T.J Carr and John Bradford)
How to Make a Movable Comb Top Bar Hive (Pam Gregory, Kenya)
Video - How to Build a Top Bar Beehive NMBKA
Making a Top Bar Hive (BFD - Bees for Development)
The importance of Top Bar Hive dimensions by Pam Gregory (B.F.D.)
Colorado Top Bar Hive (osbeehives.net)
Kenyan Top Bar Hive Plans (Peace Corps)
Standard Top Bars for the Beekeeper (TJ Carr and John Bradford)
Keeping Bees in Top Bar Hives (Les Crowder and Heather Harrell)
An analysis of the KTB Hive in Calgary, Alberta (Calgary Beekeepers Association)
Comparison of TBH vs Langstroth Hives (Chantal Forster)
Beekeeping with Top Bar Hives (Wikibooks)
Top Bar Hives Questions and Answers
The Kenyan Top Bar Hive Explained
Comparison- Vertical to Horizontal Top Bar Hive
The Vertical Top Bar Hive (Warre Hive)
Building a Better Beehive with Les Crowder by Robert Gerard
Sustainable Beekeeping with Top Bar Hives (Robin Morris)
Top Bar Hive in East Senegal (B.F.D.)
Using local style and Top Bar Hives in Uganda (BFD)
17th Century Ceramic Top Bar Hives (H. Harissis and G. Mavrofridis)
Kenyan Top Bar Hive Management
The Appropriate Beehive: An Introduction to Top Bar Beekeeping by Marty Hardison
beekeeping. But I believe that their necessity has been mother to a great invention. The topbar hive is an appropriate technology tool for beekeeping. It's not an inefficient primitive instrument nor is it a high cost convenience. It lies somewhere in the middle. It operates by the same discovery that enabled the Langstroth hive - the bee space. In this hive independent movable combs are suspended from carefully sized topbars. The topbars are the precise width that once a comb is build on one· the bee space between that comb and the next is preserved. The combs are built entirely by the bees.
Basic Beekeeping Manual by Pam Gregory - Top Bar Hives (Africa)
Top Bar Hive Management (Tanya Philips - beefriendlyaustin.com)
Top Bar Beekeeping in Alaska (Stephen Petersen, toklatapiaries.weebly.com)
Beekeeping with Top Bar Hives (Nicola Bradbear and Gladstone Solomon BFD)
Top Bar Hive - Essential Management (sparkybeegirl.com)
Beekeeping Training Manual (Top Bar, Zambia, W.C.S.)
Better Beekeeping in Top Bar Hives by Pam Gregory (B.F.D.)
Things that can go wrong with Top Bar Hives by Pam Gregory (B.F.D.)
Top Bar entrances and roofs by Pam Gregory (B.F.D.)
Sample simple 32 bar Top Bar Hive Inspection Form (beepods.com)
Simple 32 bar Top Bar Inspection Form (beepods.com)
Top Bar Hive Inspection Diagram (Christy Hemenway)
How to introduce bees to a Top Bar Hive by Phil, Norm and Gary at biobees.com
How to install a package of bees into a Top Bar Hive (goldstarhoneybees.com)
Video - Installing a Package of Bees in a KTBH (Wyatt Mangum)
Video - Inspecting the installed package of bees on the third day (Wyatt Mangum)
Moving Bees from a frame to a Top Bar Hive (Philip Chandler)
Installing a Langstroth Nuc into a Top Bar Hive
Choosing a site, making a hive stand and attracting bees (BFD)
Video - Top Bar Hive Inspection (honeybeesonline.com)
Video - Comb Management Part 1 (learningbeekeeping.com)
Video - Comb Management Part 2 (learningbeekeeping.com)
Top Bar Hive Ventilation (T.J Carr and John Bradford)
Video - How to Make a KTBH Feeder (Philip Chandler biobees.com)
Mite Management of Top Bar Hives by Randy Oliver (scientificbeekeeping.com)
Harvesting honey from a Top Bar Hive (Howland Blackiston)
How to Harvest Honey from a Top Bar Hive (Pam Gregory)
A trapezoidal frame adapted for centrifugal extraction (B.F.D.)
Winterizing your Top Bar Hive (backyardhive.com)
Winter in a Top Bar Hive (Christy Hemenway)
Video - Winterize your Top Bar Hive (goldstarhoneybees.com)
Video - Minnesota Cold Winterizing your KTBH (Pine City Apiary)
Dividing Top Bar Hives in Ethiopia (BFD)
Facts about a frame for the Kenyan Top Bar Hive (Stanley Mboboa, Kenya)
*BFD = Bees For Development (beesfordevelopment.org)
Top Bar Hive Construction
The Calgary Top Bar Hive: For Northern Climates (Calgary Beekeepers Association)
How to Build a Top Bar Hive (Philip Chandler - biobees.com)
Building a Top Bar Hive (beekeepingnaturally.com)
Crowder Top Bar Hive Plans (Les Crowder)
Crowder style Top Bar Mating Nuc
Drawings for a Top Bar Hive with Window (T.J Carr and John Bradford)
How to Make a Movable Comb Top Bar Hive (Pam Gregory, Kenya)
Video - How to Build a Top Bar Beehive NMBKA
Making a Top Bar Hive (BFD - Bees for Development)
The importance of Top Bar Hive dimensions by Pam Gregory (B.F.D.)
Colorado Top Bar Hive (osbeehives.net)
Kenyan Top Bar Hive Plans (Peace Corps)
Top Bar Hives Videos
Top Bar Hive Inspection (Long Lane Honey Bee Farms -12 mins)
Build a Top Bar Hive for under $50 (from Wranglestar - 24 mins)
Top Bar Hive Glass Window (from Wranglestar - 9 mins)
Top Bar Hive Lead Roof (from Wranglestar - 6 mins)
Swarm Catching 101 (Top bar hive) (from Phil Chandler and Biobees - 10:39 mins)
Moving bees from frames to a top bar hive (from Phil Chandler and Biobees - 12:19 mins)
Kenyan Top Bar Hives (from Phil Chandler and Biobees - 27 mins)
The Warre Hive
E.Warré" "... At a convenient time we raised queens and supplied swarms. But one evening, an order for 12 swarms was cancelled. I had empty hives to put them in, but I had only enough foundation for two hives. I settled for putting starters in the others as raw wax at the top of the frames, helped greatly by my knife in putting these starters in order. And I noticed that on these starters the bees constructed their combs as quickly as those on foundation and that these combs were more regular. I thus decided to continue to use only starters of raw wax and I have never come to regret it. The People's Hive was thus designed. And if small hives with frames economise on winter stores and facilitate the development of brood in spring, a hive with fixed comb will do it better because its volume is smaller: 36 litres instead of 44. We therefore designed the People's Hive with fixed comb. Now we noticed that the People's Hive with fixed combs saved an extra 3 kg of stores compared with the People's Hive with frames. We thus had two hives: the People's Hive with fixed comb, a perfect hive, but not convenient on a commercial scale because it does not allow the extractor to be used, and the People's Hive with frames, very superior to modern hives, inferior however to the People's Hive with fixed combs, but convenient for commercial use.... "
Top Bar Hive Websites:
Products from Beekeeping
accessible market or the lack of knowledge about production and further use are of major importance. While production methods of other primary products can be adapted from common beekeeping texts, the further elaboration and use of the same products can rarely be found. If so, descriptions range from highly specific scientific results to self-proclaimed experts fraudulently exploiting consumer ignorance. In order to present a comprehensive and practical review this bulletin tries to synthesize available information from scientific literature and practical, technical literature including the few in-depth reviews available on some of the primary bee products such as honey, Wax and propolis. Worldwide the usage of such primary products as propolis, royal jelly and bee venom have increased mostly due to inclusion in cosmetic preparations. Medicinal use will increase once better and more detailed studies are completed, which however may not yet be in the very near future. The use of honey and other products has also increased in many countries because of the increasing health awareness and the high esteem of bee products in various processed and unprocessed forms..."
"Keeping bees requires knowledge and experience if it is to be done well. This knowledge and experience can be obtained by observing and learning from an experienced beekeeper or through study and practice. Once this has been achieved, a well-qualified beekeeper can produce bee products.Even if someone knows exactly how to keep bees, the products he or she produces may not meet market demands and thus may not be able to provide a sufficient income. It is important to realise that the products have to be bought by others, who determine what demands must be met in order for the products to be worth a certain selling price. One of the most important market demands is quality. A product has to be consistently good. It also has to be free of impurities and additives. It also has to look good. The authors of this booklet are all experts in their areas of beekeeping and are members of NECTAR. But this booklet is not a scientific publication. Its aim is only to show how it is possible to make good products with limited resources."
"While there are many ways to assess the quality of fresh produce—aroma, firmness, texture—your customers can detect only the color of the honey. Therefore your packaging—jar and label—is important. It should convey the honey within is special and high quality. The section below outlines
Value-Added Products from Beekeeping (United Nations, l996)
"Many of the beekeeping activities in developing countries in the past have been oriented towards
honey production. Wax usually was a by-product and other possible products have rarely found
consideration. Such neglect of other products has a variety of reasons among which an easily
Bee Products - Properties, Processing and Marketing (N.E.C.T.A.R)
Help the Honey Speak (Certified Naturally Grown) - A Marketing Guide for Beekeepers with Naturally-Managed Apiaries
your packaging options. Similarly you (or your representatives) have an important role to play educating customers. Many people think “honey is honey” and see no reason to pay a beekeeper $8 for something that costs $5 in the supermarket. Yet once they encounter an enthusiastic natural beekeeper, many customers are delighted to connect the taste of a varietal to its floral source, learn about how natural beekeeping helps the bees, and do their part by purchasing honey from natural beekeepers. You’ll need to decide whether to use glass or plastic, or some combination. Plastic containers include various squeeze containers and the new, inverted jar. They are lightweight and unbreakable, but generally do not communicate the high-quality image you may favor for
your honey. Glass jars come in a variety of shapes and convey the “artisanal” nature of your honey. And glass jars are preferred by customers who avoid storing food in plastic. They are, however, heavy, so in settings where customers will need to carry the honey some distance, a plastic option or smaller jars might be desirable. By offering a variety of sizes you accommodate the different needs of your customers. Smaller sizes, including small sample-sizes, are very popular, make great gifts, and tempt new customers to try your honey. Larger sizes offer your regular customers a more economical and convenient option..."
Honey
Honey (Reference Guide - NHB) - "Honey has the capacity to serve as a natural food preservative. Research has demonstrated the potential for honey to reduce enzymatic browning in fruits and vegetables and prevent lipid oxidation in meats. Most of the antibacterial activity of the honeys occurs due to hydrogen peroxide generation. Other researchers have identified the flavonoids in honey, particularly caffeic acid and ferulic acid, as the most likely contributors. Honey is composed primarily of the sugars glucose and fructose; its third greatest component is water. Honey also contains numerous other types of sugars, as well as acids, proteins and minerals.4,5 Carbohydrates are described by the number of sub-units they contain. Fructose and glucose are monosac-charides, that is, simple sugars. Sucrose, which is composed of fructose and glucose linked together, is a disaccharide; it comprises a little over 1 percent of the composition of honey."
How do bees make honey? (Khalil Hamdan)
How do bees make honey? It's not just bee barf. (Matt Shipman)
Honey and It's Uses (Malcolm T. Sanford)
Infant Botulism and Honey (University of Florida)
How do bees make honey? (Khalil Hamdan)
How do bees make honey? It's not just bee barf. (Matt Shipman)
Honey and It's Uses (Malcolm T. Sanford)
Infant Botulism and Honey (University of Florida)
Determination of Botannical Origin of Honey (Inframiel.ch)
Honey Floral Source Guide (NHB)
Judging Liquid Honey (J. Ambrose)
Honey Floral Source Guide (NHB)
Judging Liquid Honey (J. Ambrose)
Apitherapy
Wax
Propolis
Propolis - Composition, Health, Medicine (Stefan Bogdanov)
The Benefits of Propolis (Dr. Marla Spivak)
The Benefits of Propolis (Dr. Marla Spivak)
Education
(for parents and teachers)
*The epub book format can be read using the free ebook reader Calibre.
*Some of the instructional material is appropriate for children and adults (All)
Teaching (Lesson Plans and aids)
Bees
4H Honey Bee Youth Project Book II (Virginia Cooperative Extension Grades 4-6) Equipment of Beekeepers.
Busy Bees - Education Activity Book K-3 (Agriculture Canada) - Learning Objectives:
• learn terminology related to honeybees and beekeeping • learn about honeybees, their life cycle and how honey is produced • understand what pollination is, and how plants produce seeds and fruit • discover the role of bees and the wind in pollinating plants • learn about the tasks and responsibilities of beekeepers, and how honey is harvested • learn about the products and by-products of beekeeping. Visit the "Bees A Honey of an Idea" virtual museum from the Canadian Agriculture and Food
Museum. This is a great online interactive experience that is fun and educational for children of all ages.
School Resource Kit K1-6 (The Canadian Honey Council) - The activities presented in this course relate to honey production. Although a fascinating subject in itself, the resource does not restrict itself to providing facts and information of honey bees and how honey is made. Instead honey production is used as a vehicle to develop skills that will make students better learners. The activities also help foster positive attitudes towards self, others and our world.
Smithonian Pollinator Lesson Plans (Gr. 4-9) Smithsonian in Your Classroom’s purpose is to help you use the educational power of museums and other community resources. Smithsonian in Your Classroom draws on the Institution’s hundreds of exhibitions and programs—from art, history, and science to aviation and folk life—to create classroom-ready materials for grades four through nine. Each of the four annual issues explores a single topic through an interdisciplinary, multicultural approach. The Smithsonian invites teachers to duplicate materials from this publication for educational use.
Kids Discover Bees - Reading Comprehension Skills (Kidsdiscoverteachers.com) Power Vocabulary is a systematic and individualized approach to vocabulary development that enables teachers to assist students to improve their reading comprehension skills. Power Vocabulary consists of two word groups—specialized and general-usage words.
Environmental Learning Program (Pollinators) K-6 This is a single lesson plan with the objective to observe the interaction between flowers and pollinators.
Environmental Learning Program (Bees as Pollinators) K-6 This is a single lesson plan with the objective to observe the interaction between flowers and honey bees as pollinators.
Environmental Learning Program (Pollinator Field Guides) K-6 The objective of this lesson plan is using various colors of pressed flowers, create a field guide to pollinators to various colors of flower.
Africanized Honey Bee Activity Program (Children) This is a single lesson plan providing information on identifying Africanized Honey Bees and their potential nesting sites.
Pollinator Activity Book (U.S.D.A. Gr. 4-7) Information and activities on bees and pollination.
Bees Visit Flowers (Teaching Guide) Bees visit flowers is a concept cartoon activity that evaluates competing ideas using discussion of alternative explanations about observable facts. Children decide which of the alternatives presented represents the whole answer. They need to support or add to the statements in the cartoon and to link these with their own observations.
Honey Bee Lapbook - Adaptable to different ages (Homeschoolshare.com) - Educational Information and activities on honey bees. Designed to assist home schooling.
Bees and Flowers - Partners in Pollination (Oregon State University) - 6 lesson plans (Grades 6-8). The Rural Science Education Program is a partnership between Oregon State University and local rural K-12 schools for enrichment of the science curriculum with hands-on science activities that encourage critical thinking in K-12 students about the impacts of agriculture on the environment and the implications of advanced scientific research on human lives.
The Bee Book (Haagen Dazs) An assortment of honey bee education and activities covering the subjects of science, math, reading, writing and art (Grades 6-8).
What's The Buzz About (HobbyFarms.com) Single page honey bee educational information (all ages).
What Is Pollination (Pollinator.ca) (All ages)
Why Manage Pollination? (Pollinator.ca) (All ages)
Wild pollinators (Pollinator.ca) (All ages)
Powdered Sugar Sampling to monitor Varroa Powerpoint Presentation (University of Delaware) (All ages)
The Environment
Books
The Adventures of Beatrice the Bee created by USGS Kids
The Adventures of Maya the Bee by Waldemar Bonsels
The adventures of Maya the Bee (Epub book format)
The adventures of Maya the Bee (Epub book format)
Videos
Activities and Projects
Education Resource Websites
Brushy Mtn Bee Farm
Caring for a new colony (143 mins)
Installing a package of bees (39 mins)
6 weeks as a beekeeper now what? (108 mins)
Preparing for Fall with Kim Flottum
Getting ready for winter (91 mins)
Preparing for Fall with Kim Flottum
Getting ready for winter (91 mins)
Harvesting and extracting (103 mins)
Making colonies from the ones you have (90 mins)
Basic Mead making (75 mins)
Candle making (65 mins)
IPM techniques (95 mins)
Processing your wax (75 mins)
Queen maladies (117 mins)
Year 2 build up your hives! (89 mins)
Brushy Mtn Farm Youtube channel has webinars and videos of virtually every topic related to beekeeping.
Hive Health Diagnostics (Barb Bloetsher) 56 mins - Play
Pesticides in and around the hive (Dr. Reed Johnson) - 58 mins Play
Questions from the hive (Dr. Reed Johnson) - 55 mins Play
Marketing Bee Products (Dr. Julie Fox - 54 mins) Play
Plants and Beekeeping - F.N. Howes (1945)
Practical Beekeeping - Ralph Benton (1907)
Some of the essentials of Beekeeping - Burton Gates (1912)
American Honey Plants (1920 Book)
The Bee-Keepers Guide (A.J. Cook 1883)
Practical Beekeeping - Ralph Benton (1907)
Some of the essentials of Beekeeping - Burton Gates (1912)
American Honey Plants (1920 Book)
The Bee-Keepers Guide (A.J. Cook 1883)
* A few great sources of classical books are Cornell University's "The Hive the Honey Bee Collection", Michael Bush's classic bee book collection and The Biodiversity Heritage Library.
The Adventures of Maya the Bee (Children's story) - Waldemar Bonsels
Why the Bee Buzzes (Young children) - Ryan Struhl
Why the Bee Buzzes (Young children) - Ryan Struhl
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Bee Crossing |
No Trespassing Honeybee Yard |
Curso de Apicultura (para emprendedores y productores) for entrepeneurs and producers
Apicultura y medios de Vida Sostenibles (Beekeeping for sustainable livelihoods)
Apicultura de pequeña escala - (small scale beekeeping) Gentry 1982
La Vida De Las Abejas (Maurice Maeterlinck 1901)
Thanks so much for this library. I'm interested in the Native bees and am going to make use of your links.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you are enjoying it. I add material to the library every week. Don't forget the Busy Bumblebee song in the Children's section. It's my favourite.
ReplyDeleteVery very nice work of you , big help for us , thank you.
ReplyDeleteI am glad you find it useful. I add about 100 new articles or books every few months. I wish there was an easier way to quickly translate the PDF pages into any language without having to download them but at least there is google translate. Thank you for your kind words. Enjoy!
Deletewhat a wonderful library, thank you so much. can you find anything about eastern European bee sheds? they look like they would work here in Alberta. I kept a hive in an old shed here for 7 years succesfully until they got agressive and chased an old person and I had to put then down. They were very productive. I am not haveing much luck finding plans for the bee shed designs though they have been used for many many years.
DeleteThanks, I'm glad you are enjoying the library. I've also looked for Eastern European bee shed plans for years with no success which is strange because they are so popular. There are lots of free shed plans available on the internet (http://shedplanslists.com/free-shed-plans-pdf/) so what I would do is choose the plan I like and design one south facing wall to fit the hives based on bee shed photos (https://goo.gl/sT00g2). Good luck and let me know if you find any bee shed plans.
Deletethank you my friend!!!!!!!!!!! very nice work!
ReplyDeleteYou are very welcome. Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteThank you very much for this amazing library. I put a link on my website http://buckfastimker.wordpress.com for the Dutch beekeepers.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you are enjoying it. You have a great website. Unfortunately we have no Buckfast bees in Canada. Bee imports are very restricted (we can't even get bees from the U.S.). I hope you and your family are happy and healthy and that your bees are resistant to disease and mites and produce buckets of honey.
ReplyDeleteExcellent...for anyone going into or rearing bees
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you find it useful. As Michael Bush says you can buy my book but all the information is available on his website. There are many great free sources of information on the internet and this is just a collection of those we found most useful. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteMy website is also available in Spanish: http://www.bushfarms.com/es_bees.htm as is my book: https://www.amazon.com/Apicultor-Practico-Volumenes-Natural-Spanish/dp/1614760942/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1472146315&sr=8-1&keywords=El+Apicultor+Pr%C3%A1ctico It would be better if the links to my powerpoints went to my website. I try to continually improve them and the latest ones will be there: http://www.bushfarms.com/beespresentations.htm
Delete--Michael Bush
Good to know. I didn't realize your site was also available in Spanish. I will change the powerpoints to link to your website.
DeleteThis site is really helpful. Thanks for your effort. I'm a beekeeper from Nigeria.
ReplyDeleteI am so glad you have found this website helpful and I hope that you, your family and your bees in Nigeria are happy and healthy and that your bees give you buckets of honey.
ReplyDeleteThank You for the Web Library. I have downloaded all what I wanted to know more on Beekeeping to become a an advance beekeeper soon.
ReplyDeleteYou are most welcome Gabriel. Good luck in your beekeeping adventures.
DeleteThis is a great website for becoming a great beekeeper. I find it so helpful. Thanks. I'm a beekeeper from Nigeria.
ReplyDeleteThank you Olajuwon. There is great potential for growth of the beekeeping industry in Nigeria for increased crop production and honey yield. Good luck to you, your family and your bees.
Delete