Download The Beekeeper Handbook Diana Sammataro Alphonse Avitabile Dewey M Caron Books

Product details Paperback 272 pages Publisher Comstock Publishing Associates; 4 edition (May 13, 2011) Language English ISBN-10 0801476941

The Beekeeper Handbook Diana Sammataro Alphonse Avitabile Dewey M Caron Books Reviews

• I bought this with a few other books on beekeeping and I think this book is just okay, because it has some great and not so great points. Great points are that is provides a wealth of information of bees, beekeeping, and harvesting in Langstroth and only Langstroth hives. The information is very clearly written and summarized with bullets. It's especially helpful when description techniques and summarizing with advantages and disadvantages. It's easy to read through or reference as needed. HOWEVER, it is very one-sided. This book should be called the "Langstroth Beekeeper's Handbook" and then I would have to give this book 5 stars because it does it fact throughly cover everything you could imagine about using a Langstroth hive. But my concern is that this book doesn't reference or acknowledge that their are many other ways out there and the title of Beekeeper's Handbook seems to portray a comprehensive text about beekeeping in general. I can understand if the authors goal was to write only about Langstroth, which is totally fine, but I think that premise needs to be clearer for a reader/purchaser. Reading this text would lead you to believe that there is only this way to keep bees, when in fact there are MANY MANY ways to care for bees successfully while aligning to your philosophy. This book provides information on techniques and approaches in such an authoritative way it would easily convince a new beekeeper this is the only way to do things, which it is not. Even just a mention in the preface, that this book will focus on Langstroth hives but there are many other kinds of hives worth researching - top bar, warre, etc. as well as mentioning that organic and natural practices exist, and many are successful with this approach as well. At least, then individuals know there are other options and can make that choice themselves. I wasn't able to see a preview with the "Look inside" feature on , so I purchased this book based on reviews. Would I purchase it again? I am not sure, I think there is a wealth of information about biology and bees, but this is also provided in texts that better align to my philosophy or provide a more robust and comprehensive portrayal of beekeeping. I'm not opposed to reference or mention of Langstroth methods commonly used but for it should be provided along side other methods, or specifically titled as so. I would say its great for a Langstroth only beekeeper, that is already aware of the other beekeeping methods and is dedicated to using a Langstroth, for them - this would be a great reference tool!
• The Beekeeper’s Handbook is has always been my primary “go to” information source whenever I have a question or a problem with my hives. In fact, I’ve used it as a guide from my first days as a beginning beekeeper some 12 years ago. It covers everything from hive construction to harvesting honey and everything in between. It’s well illustrated with clear diagrams and the text is easily understandable for the beginner. This 4th edition has been expanded to cover CCD (colony collapse disorder), green pest management and mite control.
  
  I’ve found this book invaluable in maintaining a growing apiary and keeping my bees healthy and productive.
• This book is now in its 4th edition. That certainly tells you that it contains the essential information not only for beginning beekeepers but for all beekeepers. The diagrams are excellent and enhance the explanations in the text so that beekeepers not only read the information but see what they need to do. It is a book that all beekeepers will use for ready reference. It will be an excellent choice of textbook for bee courses on all levels. Those who have previous editions in their bee book collections will welcome the most current information in this 4th edition. I highly recommend this book to all beekeepers.
• I bought these, in multiple orders, for our beekeeping club. We use this as the main text book that we use for teaching new beekeepers. This has all the information you need to know to learn how to keep bees. We switched over to this book this year from Beekeeping for Dummies. I believe she is going to be doing an update later this year, so we ordered a few smaller orders as people signed up for the class. Didn't want to get stuck with extras if an update is coming. Don't wait though, this book is great as is and you won't be disappointed.
• Excellent study for new-bees and veterans alike, written in common English and easy to understand. Each section is well illustrated with color photos. I studied this book when I checked out a copy from the NEOBA Club library last year, and found myself referring back to it on my hive construction projects. I just had to have my own copy to refer to so I could write in the margins and doodle my thoughts inside. One of these days this book will become a treasured heirloom. Get one of your own.
• Being new to beekeeping, I found this book especially handy ( this being my 5th bee related book ). Lots of great info and arranged in a nice manner. They do touch on some info that is a little irrelevant to me, but not a big deal as you can just skip over it. I would recommend this book as a "first to read" for any new beekeeper, and will keep this as a quick reference guide for a long while.
• As a new-bee beekeeper, I relied on the "Dummies" book and local SME's. I don't have the 3rd edition of TBH to compare, but this 4th edition has an abundance of great information and exceptional illustrations and diagrams. The index is not extremely detailed, but it is functional, and I have found information for some odd questions with just a little digging. There are 28 pages of further reference materials on diverse subjects ranging from abbreviations to wintering, and several interesting subsections. For example, some of my unused equipment was devastated by wax moths due to my own negligence. Who knew- or even wanted to know- you could raise wax moths to sell to fishermen, or simply eat them yourself? I believe I'll just stick to honey for now.
• I've kept bees for years on my little hobby farm (got about 40 gallons of honey this past year) so I must be doing something right. Probably a book that should be in every beekeepers library. Not the 'bible', but definitely a good addition with some great information in it. I would buy it again, and I can recommend it to other beekeepers as well.