First Time Beekeeping

Kim Flottum (d. 2023) brought a rich background of plant science, honey bee research, and basic farming to his 30 years as the editor of Bee Culture magazine, where his main occupation was finding the answers to the multitude of questions that beginning, intermediate, and even advanced and experienced beekeepers bring to the table. He taught beginning and advanced beekeeping courses, traveled extensively to educate and lecture, and contributed to a variety of other publications on the basics of honey bees and beekeeping biology, the business of bees and pollination, producing and using varietal honeys, and a host of other subjects. He was the author of The Backyard Beekeeper, First Time Beekeeping, In Business with Bees, and Common Sense Natural Beekeeping. His books, magazine articles, interviews, and blogs are widely read for both their fundamental and advanced contribution to beekeeping knowledge. He was beekeeping’s leading advocate for fundamental honey bee safety, including ensuring excellent honey bee health, providing extraordinary forage, and minimizing the use of agricultural pesticides.

PREFACE
INTRODUCTION
 
1 STARTING RIGHT
GETTING STARTED
BEEYARDS OTHER THAN BACKYARDS
EQUIPMENT: TOOLS OF THE TRADE
THE BEES
 
2 ABOUT BEES
THE QUEEN
THE WORKERS
FORAGERS
DRONES
 
3 ABOUT BEEKEEPING
LIGHTING YOUR SMOKER
PACKAGE MANAGEMENT
KEEPING RECORDS
OPENING A COLONY
INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT
MALADIES
COMB HONEY AND CUT-COMB HONEY
SUMMERTIME CHORES
LATE SUMMER HARVEST
FALL AND WINTER MANAGEMENT
EARLY SPRING INSPECTIONS
 
RESOURCES
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
PHOTOGRAPHER CREDITS
INDEX