The late Richard Bonney spent much of his career as a USDA extension beekeeping advisor and in the course of his professional life he learned how to write for clarity and economy. Mr. Stanford is similarly trained and has taken the texts that Mr. Bonney wrote for Storey in the early 1990s and updated them for modern beekeepers. Much of this revision has been the inclusion of new information on the new and newly important pests and diseases of honeybee colonies that have emerged since Mr. Bonney wrote. Some excellent new photos have been added.

This is an excellent book for newcomers to beekeeping, especially when supplemented by the locally adapted information put out by USDA and professional apiarists at the state and regional level.

Storey’s Guide to Keeping Bees, 2nd edition

Glad to see this guide updated. Overall a solid book that would be at home on the shelves of public libraries, farm and garden stores, or to give as a gift to beginning beekeepers. This guide equips beekeepers with practical advice. Some of the strong points include the overview of new research out of the University of Minnesota Bee Lab, overwintering techniques, and the value of bees as pollinators. Hives are now home to four types of inhabitants; the queen, workers, drones, and Varroa destructor. The authors emphasize the importance of staying current with strategies for managing the parasitic mites as well as other threats to bee health and the hive habitat. Candy boards were mentioned as winter feed, but only the hard candy processed at high temperatures. Fondant is more pliable and beekeepers report success with this winter feed as well. When beekeepers choose a mentor and join a bee club they will expand their skills and gain more confidence. The authors recommend this road map for future growth. The resources offered at the back are current and point readers to great resources for further information. The sidebar stories from experienced beekeepers boost reader appeal. The full color photos are well matched to the text.

Malcom T Stanford and Richard E Bonney are back with the second edition of Storey's Guide to Keeping Honey Bees. I found this book to offer very basic information. I would have been happier to see more varied information. I got the impression that the authors had concrete ideas and stuck to those. Maybe this is common among beekeepers. I like to read about all of the options and make my own decisions. The textbook style was hard for me to read, but that is a personal grievance. This is a good starter book on beekeeping.

Anyone who gardens, farm or is just interested in nature, knows of the plight of honey bees. More than a few of us have thought of having backyard or rooftop hives. Storey's Guide to Keeping Honey Bees is an extremely useful book for encouraging you while letting you know just what you're getting into! Packed with advice for the novice beekeeper, I felt encouraged to give beekeeping a try when we move to a larger property next year. The Guide is filled to the brim with resources, suppliers, and advice on connecting with your local apiarists for advice on what you need to do in your specific geographic region.

This is an invaluable book for those considering trying a few hives.

http://marziesreads.blogspot.com/2018/07/moar-bees-reviews-of-storeys-guide-to.html

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2441790128

Love it! Storey's is such a fantastic beginner's guide to beekeeping and I'm happy to see that it is being kept up-to-date.

A very complete compilation for the new beekeeper with information good for all.
Well researched and resourced with fantastic photos and diagrams.
Very comprehensive.

I have always been fascinated by bees and the importance they have in the planet's ecosystem and our food chain. in recent years it has become apparent that despite this vital role, they are also facing many challenges. As humans this is where beekeepers are in a position to step in and provide key support to the bee colonies. If I were to take that next step and decide to install a colony myself, this Storey's guide would be my first reference point as it contains a wealth of information and tips that would help me along the way. It has certainly stimulated my desire to become a beekeeper and I would recommend the book to anyone who has any sort of interest in bee welfare.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Helpful, reassuring, and brightly photographed., Included is a wealth of information on bees and beekeeping, the history of beekeeping, what to expect when starting out, troubleshooting problems and intense bee information. Enough information is provided to prepare novices for beginning.

Overall a wonderful addition to any public library. This would also be a nice gift for an aspiring beekeeper.