This is a comprehensive and attractive lifestyle guide to beekeeping - from finding your bees to getting them home, housing them, collecting honey and using their produce. It includes a detailed look at the history of bees and beekeeping, and an extensive introduction to help you to fully understand your bees and keep them happy.
Whether you have a tiny balcony or acres of land; live in the middle of a city or in the countryside surrounded by flowers, this book caters for every situation, discussing the different types of hive available for every eventuality. It features a detailed section on gardening for bees, as well as comprehensive advice on how to safely collect your honey and wax, with recipes and ideas on how to use them.
Introduction; Understanding Bees; What to Consider; Housing your Bees; Where & When to Get your Bees; Getting your Bees Home; Gardening for Bees; All About Honey; Bees in Winter; The Second Year; Bee Products; Recipes; Glossary; Acknowledgments; Index.
Alison Benjamin is a Guardian journalist. She writes on environmental issues and social affairs and currently edits The Guardian's environment website.
Brian McCallum is a designer, builder and yachtsman. She and Brian - who now studies apiculture - have many hives in different locations across London. Their blog, www.urbanbees.co.uk provides a fascinating insight into beekeeping in the city.