Beekeeping Today: A Practical, Seasonal Guide for Beginning Beekeepers
A forthcoming book by the cohosts of Beekeeping Today Podcast
Thinking about keeping honey bees? Already have your first hive and wondering if you’re doing things right?
Beekeeping Today: A Practical, Seasonal Guide for Beginning Beekeepers was written to help new beekeepers move beyond simply following instructions and develop the knowledge needed to make informed decisions for their colonies.
Modern beekeeping presents challenges that earlier generations never faced. Varroa mites, changing forage conditions, queen quality concerns, and shifting weather patterns all require beekeepers to understand not only what to do, but whythey are doing it.
Drawing on decades of combined experience as beekeepers, educators, and hosts of Beekeeping Today, Jeff Ott and Dr. Becky Masterman provide a practical, science-based guide to the first years of beekeeping.
Rather than offering rigid recipes, this book helps readers understand how honey bee colonies function, how colonies change throughout the seasons, and how to evaluate conditions in their own apiaries to make sound management decisions.
Why This Book Is Different
Many beginner beekeeping books focus on equipment lists and step-by-step procedures. Those are important, but successful beekeeping ultimately depends on understanding what is happening inside the hive.
This book emphasizes observation, critical thinking, and decision-making. By learning how colonies grow, reproduce, store resources, respond to environmental conditions, and cope with pests and diseases, you’ll be better prepared to respond to the unique challenges your colonies face.
Whether your goal is a single backyard hive or a larger apiary, this book provides a foundation you can build upon for years to come.
What You’ll Learn
Through a practical, seasonal approach, you’ll explore topics including:
- Why Keep Honey Bees?
- Honey Bee Biology and the Colony
- Equipment and Apiary Setup
- Obtaining Your First Bees
- Installing and Establishing Colonies
- Conducting Effective Hive Inspections
- Seasonal Colony Management
- Swarming and Colony Reproduction
- Queen Biology and Queen Management
- Honey Bee Nutrition
- Varroa Mites and Colony Health
- Honey Harvesting and Processing
- Preparing Colonies for Winter
- Troubleshooting Common Beekeeping Challenges
Each chapter builds upon the previous one, helping new beekeepers develop both practical skills and a deeper understanding of honey bee management.
Written for Today’s Beginning Beekeeper
Whether you’re still deciding if beekeeping is right for you or you’re preparing for your second or third season, Beekeeping Today: A Practical, Seasonal Guide for Beginning Beekeepers provides the knowledge, context, and confidence needed to successfully manage honey bee colonies.
Available from Lyons Press and wherever books are sold, including:
- Amazon: https://amzn.to/3RRVpDE
- Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/beekeeping-today-jeff-ott/1149713726?ean=9781493091362
- Books A Million: https://www.booksamillion.com/p/Beekeeping-Today/Jeff-Ott/9781493091362
Join the Beekeeping Today community to receive updates on publication dates, special announcements, and additional educational resources.