Natural Beekeeping by Conrad and Nabhan

[beeprice]

I have just ordered this book after reading several references to it and having had it recommended by several friends. I would appreciate hearing from anyone who has read it. Is anyone familiar with these authors? I'm going to expand from one to five or six hives over the next couple of years and I feel drawn to the natural approach. I have been an organic gardener all of my life and that has worked out very well.

[Limey]

I have just ordered this book after reading several references to it and having had it recommended by several friends. I would appreciate hearing from anyone who has read it. Is anyone familiar with these authors? I'm going to expand from one to five or six hives over the next couple of years and I feel drawn to the natural approach. I have been an organic gardener all of my life and that has worked out very well.

I do not think it has been released yet.. due out in June I think. Where did you order it from? probably pre-ordered it?

As to the book, I think a book on this subject alone is LONG overdue and surprised that one was not published sooner..

[drobbins]

I suggest you look here

http://bushfarms.com/bees.htm

Dave

[Michael Bush]

>I suggest you look here

and that one is free.. :)

[mwjohnson]

Then for some more ideas try "Toward Saving The Honeybee" by Gunther Hauk...not sure where to get one, it's copyrighted by the Biodynamic Farming and Gardening Association.

Try googleing the "Pfeiffer Center"...

Mark

[gardenbees]

"I have been an organic gardener all of my life and that has worked out very well."

I have as well but let me tell you, keeping bees that way has proven to be a much tougher challenge. But I'm not giving up. Theresa.

[hummingberd]

beeprice, thanks so much for starting this thread! I agree that publishing of books on these issues are LONG overdue. I'm so glad that this information is being organized into a book. I have read through Michael bush's website, and continue to study it. His website has been invaluable to me. Its nice to have more than one perspective however, and I'm glad this book has been brought to my attention. apparently the pfeiffer center has classes led by Gunther Hauk. Maybe I'll get the chance to take one.

[beeprice]

Theresa...what are some of the problems (opportunities?) :) you have had?

[gardenbees]

"Theresa...what are some of the problems (opportunities?) you have had?"

Well, let me start by saying that I have never treated my hives for mites using conventional chemical treatments and that being said, I do have a mite population in my hives. They seem to be in balance right now but the difficult part for me is knowing that the balance is precarious and just a millimeter in the wrong direction and you can lose your hive. This pest is far more virulent than any I have faced in organic gardening mostly because it is hidden and the damage is not readily apparent until it is too late. Thus, it takes a very proactive type person to be a successful 'non chemical' beekeeper. If you let your guard down for even a couple of weeks, you could be sunk. I can see my hives from my house and monitor their comings and goings on an hourly basis if need be and this has been very helpful to me as a beginning beekeeper. I feel that knowing what is 'normal' will help me to realize a problem sooner rather than later.

The last three years have been an enormous learning experience for me but similar to organic gardening, you get smarter every year. But as Thomas Jefferson so aptly said, "Although I am an old man, I am but a young gardener." I think this applies to beekeeping as well. Good luck! Theresa.

[Albert]

Hey guys,

I have gardened organicly over the years also. When one plant doesn't work, I get another. I haven't grown a decent tomato since I moved to Florida, but this year I tried an heirloom tomato called "Black German". It is doing great with good looking tomatoes.

I figure to do the same with my bees. If this hive doesn't make it due to a suseptibility to an external influence, then I don't want it in my apiary. Sort of a natural selection for the local enviroment. I have a hive or two that has mites but they seem to manage well enough. And I have one hive that seems to have an unusual number of small hive beetles. That hive's queen will have to be replaced... Other than that, I don't use any chemicals, pesticides, nor special feeds. They have to manage on their own.

I do walk my hives daily, and I keep copious notes of everything I see from the major to the innocuous. Sooner or later I'm sure some patterns will emerge.

Plan on setbacks and disruptions, and be prepared to adapt and overcome.

Regards,
Albert