ABC's of Beekeeping

Are you a new or more experienced beekeeper? Then this is the book for you — packed with 56 years of beekeeping skills and knowledge. It contains loads of tips and, most importantly, tells you what, when and how to do it.

About the Author:

Arthur Garske has over 56 years of beekeeping experience as a hobbyist, sideliner, honey exhibitor and honey judge at clubs and the Royal Sydney Agricultural Show. His greatest passion has always been sharing the knowledge and expertise he has gleaned from learned professional beekeepers and his own trial and error in the field.

Endorsement:

The book is very clear on how to adapt best management practices based on the author's experiences over many years, and gives plenty of tips.

Bruce White, Retired Technical Specialist, NSW DPI

About the Book:

This book is a journey of practical beekeeping skills and the people Arthur has interacted with throughout his career. Unlike other bee books, it combines technical information with clear guidance on what to do, how to do it and when to do it. Stories of learning, observation and hands-on apprenticeship are woven throughout.

Beekeeping in the hot dry interior of New South Wales presents unique challenges. These are discussed openly, along with the solutions — because working in that environment meant becoming a student of nature.

Whether you are just starting out or looking to expand your operation, the book covers what a new beekeeper needs to know before they begin, as well as hints and tips to help more experienced keepers work more efficiently and manage more hives.

A chapter on biosecurity and code of practice covers what all Australian beekeepers are legally required to know. And since Varroa has become endemic in Australia, there is also a dedicated chapter on Varroa management and treatment methods — something no other Australian beekeeping book currently includes.

Interspersed between chapters are short stories titled Unexpected Happenings — real events from Arthur's trips to his hives, located over 600 km from his suburban home.

Content:

Chapter 1 — Starting in Beekeeping, Protective Equipment, Helpful Hints, American Foul Brood, Rules & Regulations, Biosecurity, Workplace Safety & Risks

Chapter 2 — Hive Beetle, Beekeeper's Calendar, The Life of Bees

Unexpected Happenings: With a New Chum

Chapter 3 — Bee Boxes & Hives, Bee Frames, Using a Wiring Board, Getting Straight Foundation, Embedding Wires, Refurbishing Old Frames

Unexpected Happenings: The Causeway Crossing

Chapter 4 — Keeping a Diary, Location of Hives, Migration of Hives, Feeding

Unexpected Happenings: The Planned Hive Movement to a New Site

Chapter 5 — Year-Round Hive Management, Lighting a Bee Smoker, Using a Hive Tool, Opening and Reassembling a Hive

Chapter 6 — Reasons for Swarming, Swarm Prevention, Collecting a Swarm, Swarming Season Tips

Chapter 7 — Nucleus Hives in Autumn & Spring, When to Open Hives, When to Add Supers

Unexpected Happenings: The New Trailer's Trip to the Outback

Chapter 8 — Robbing the Hive, Super Clearing Board, When to Extract, Extraction Tips, Honey Extraction, About Nectar & Honey, Preventing Candying

Unexpected Happenings: The Flying Red Roo

Chapter 9 — What to Do in Spring, Summer, Autumn & Winter

Unexpected Happenings: The Breeder Queen

Chapter 10 — Breeding Queen Bees

Unexpected Happenings: The Big Honey Flow

Chapter 11 — Working Bees in the Central West, Tips for Country Beekeepers, Problems Working Bees in the Country

Unexpected Happenings: Plan to Defray Costs

Chapter 12 — Cues and Clues of the Beehive, Living with Varroa

Chapter 13 — Beekeeping is Anything but an Exact Science, Hive Management of Brood

Unexpected Happenings: The Ginger Tom

Acknowledgements · Glossary · Image Credits · Australia's DPI Information