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I'm a reader, and I like to absorb as much information as possible. I read as much of this (as well as other) forums have to offer, as well as Mr. Bush's site (thank you so much for the information). But from time to time I'm not near a computer (weird, isn't it?) and would like a book that I can read. I've already read a few, including the Hive and the Honeybee. I think I've narrowed it down to three books (although I'm open to others):
1. Increase Essentials by Dr. Lawrence John Connor
- From what I've heard, a great book about increasing hive numbers, something I'm very interested in doing. I've moved from 1 to 8 to 0 to 3 to 8 again hives over the past six years. I'm interested in having a few more, and at some point selling nucs (although not for years).
2. Queen Rearing Essentials by Dr. Lawrence John Connor
- Once I have hive numbers to support it, I would like to start rearing my own queens. Not for sale, just so I don't have to buy them myself. I know it's a long learning curve, so I'd like to get on it now, so I hopefully have it within the next 5 years or so. I hate having to rely on swarm cells and emergency cells, and the poor quality queens that emergency cells tend to produce.
3. Observation Hives by Webster/Caron
- One of my favorite activities is watching my 3 deep Observation Hive at home. It usually can't make it through the year as a self sustaining hive though, as it's a boom or bust kinda thing. They either do so well that I need to move them out before they swarm, or they do so poorly I need to boost their numbers every two or three weeks. I'd like to read about sustaining the OH though, as well as simple experiments to do with them.
All three are available through Brushy Mountain Bee Company. That isn't a requirement, but I do have to be able to order it from somewhere, the book stores around me look at me odd when I ask about beekeeping books. Ideally I'd like to order all three, but finances are too tight for that right now.
So what do you think?
1. Increase Essentials by Dr. Lawrence John Connor
- From what I've heard, a great book about increasing hive numbers, something I'm very interested in doing. I've moved from 1 to 8 to 0 to 3 to 8 again hives over the past six years. I'm interested in having a few more, and at some point selling nucs (although not for years).
2. Queen Rearing Essentials by Dr. Lawrence John Connor
- Once I have hive numbers to support it, I would like to start rearing my own queens. Not for sale, just so I don't have to buy them myself. I know it's a long learning curve, so I'd like to get on it now, so I hopefully have it within the next 5 years or so. I hate having to rely on swarm cells and emergency cells, and the poor quality queens that emergency cells tend to produce.
3. Observation Hives by Webster/Caron
- One of my favorite activities is watching my 3 deep Observation Hive at home. It usually can't make it through the year as a self sustaining hive though, as it's a boom or bust kinda thing. They either do so well that I need to move them out before they swarm, or they do so poorly I need to boost their numbers every two or three weeks. I'd like to read about sustaining the OH though, as well as simple experiments to do with them.
All three are available through Brushy Mountain Bee Company. That isn't a requirement, but I do have to be able to order it from somewhere, the book stores around me look at me odd when I ask about beekeeping books. Ideally I'd like to order all three, but finances are too tight for that right now.
So what do you think?