My husband and I were lucky enough to capture and hive a swarm this spring, launching us unexpectedly into beekeeping. My sister has kept bees, and we'd always thought of doing it, but to "bee" (sorry, I have a problem with bee puns) thrust into it so suddenly meant we had a lot to learn, and very fast.

We immediately started learning all we could about beekeeping and how to keep our bees happy and healthy. We rented all the books we could find on bees (yes, even children's books) from our library. When we finally rented The Beekeeper's Bible, however, we knew we had found something special. We knew we couldn't just read this one, and return it to the library. Oh no, this one had to become a part of our own library. We bought it right away.

I'll start with the superficial: this book is beautiful. The cover is old fashioned, delightful, and charming artwork. This is no lightweight, either. When they call this book a "bible", it's because it literally is bible-sized. Heavy, thick, complete. It would do some serious damage if you threw this book at someone! Inside the covers, it's just as impressive. The pages are glossy, color printed with photos and images on nearly every page. Those who like their picture books will love this one, but there is plenty of literature here to give you quite the education.

That's where I'll go next, the information. This book is rich and complete on all things bees, truly a wealth of information. From the history of beekeeping, to the breeds, styles of hives, and a million other things to learn to the honey recipes, crafts, and then some. This thick book is chock full of information. Those who are actually apiarists (beekeepers) will have the necessary information at their fingertips, but this book would also be a fascinating read for those who've never kept bees and never will. (Although don't be surprised if, after flipping through some of it's pages, if you suddenly want to keep bees, too!) It's true, honeybees are absolutely fascinating creatures, there is a great deal to be learned here.

If you keep bees, or plan to, I tell you: you MUST own this book. If you are simply interested in learning more: definitely read this book. If you're looking for a gift for someone who enjoys homesteading, farming, keeping chickens, etc: this will make the perfect gift. This is one book that can't just be returned to the library, it had to be added to our collection.

Brand	N/A
Rating	4.9 (2392 ratings)
Price	$22.49
Category	Agricultural Sciences

The Beekeeper's Bible: Bees, Honey, Recipes & Other Home Uses