BEST BEE RESOURCE BOOK?

[Jason G in Tennessee]

I have been asked by the local university to teach a course on honeybees.
Does anyone have a suggestion for a good beginners book that tells everything you would ever want to know about bees that I could use in class?
Jason G

[beekeeper28]

I vote with coyote

[wishthecuttlefish]

The Beekeepers Handbook by Dianne Summataro.

[BjornBee]

The "Honey Bee Biology and Beekeeping" by Dewey M. Caron. ISBN 1-878075-09-8. This book was actually set up as a textbook for university use and instruction.

[mark williams]

Also the book,THE HIVE AND THE HONEYBEE is an outstanding book.>>>>Mark

[clintonbemrose]

All of the above are great books and there are many others to choose from I think that I would go with Beekeeping for dummies but also present a list to the class of other books on the subject so as to present many others opinions on the subject.
Clint

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Clinton Bemrose
just South of Lansing Michigan

[Michael Bush]

If Dee Lusby ever writes one I want the first copy! http://www.beesource.com/ubb/smile.gif

[twlankford]

I vote for "Beekeeping For Dummies". Excellent book in simple terminology.

[clintonbemrose]

If Dee Lusby ever writes one I want an autographed copy!
Clint

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Clinton Bemrose
just South of Lansing Michigan

[BjornBee]

Jason G,
All the books mentioned are great. The book I mentioned earlier is used and written by Dewey M. Caron, from Mid-Atlantic Apiculture research and extension consortium. He teaches university bee classes and is the extension Entomologist. The book has outlines, points of discussion and questions, and exercises for classroom instruction. He can be contacted at 302-831-8883. He's also on the http://MAAREC.cas.psu.edu website. This book and his help may save you from developing your own subject/classroom material. If I wanted a good book to read, then I'd go with "beekeeping for Dummies", if I was to teach a university class, then I'd go with something set up along those lines.

Just my opinion.

[Michael Bush]

>>"If Dee Lusby ever writes one I want the first copy!"
>I was thinking the same thing about you, Michael.

I have opinions on most everything but they are based on the experiences of a few hives over a long period of time. I have always bee the curious type and always willing to experiment. But mostly I just have more time to answer a lot of questions.

Dee has the experience of a LOT of hives over a long period of time and has been through a lot more problems and experiences with bees than I have.

I have great respect for her opinions.

[beegee]

Dr. Keith Delaplane of U of GA has a book available to go along with his video course. I like the Beekeeping for Dummies and Dr. Sammataro's book.

[Louise]

Michael, don't underestimate the need for your insights. Just from what I have read on this forum, you could easily produce a book that would be used and loved by many! I can't tell you how many times I've gone back and re-read things you've written or even printed them out. So, rather than sticking $20. in an envelope for Coyote, I'd like to mail it to you (for a book)!

[Michael Bush]

Honestly this forum has broadened my opinions a lot. A lot of methods I had tried and given up on, many of you use with success. So you'll find, if you look at my early posts and later posts, that I have often retried those methods that had failed, and reassesed why they failed and changed my opinion. Also sometimes I thought maybe I was just lazy or I just had bad luck with a method that didn't work but I find the most people who have had actual experience with the problems came to the same conclusions as I did. This is reassuring that I arrived at the optimum solution. Maybe after another year of two of watching this board I will feel I have sorted things out and heard and tried enough other solutions to feel like I could write that book.

[Mark Carden]

I agree with Bjorn. I've read Beekeeping for Dummies and it is ok, however, if you used it for a text you would have a hard time being taken seriously. When I was a student I expected more than just a cursory exposure to the subject material. I expected to learn things I couldn't anywhere else. I would recommend a text that teaches theory and practice. At college you are learning how to think, not what to think. If you teach the biology of the bee in addition to practical applications you will have more success. I guess it depends on your audience. Is this a real course that counts for credits (and costs tuition)or is it a free offering like ball room dance. If the later Beekeeping for Dummies is fine.