The Practical Beekeeper: Beekeeping Naturally [Hardcover]

Michael Bush (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 16, 2011

This book is about how to keep bees in a natural and practical system where they do not require treatments for pests and diseases and only minimal interventions. It is also about simple practical beekeeping. It is about reducing your work. It is not a main-stream beekeeping book. Many of the concepts are contrary to "conventional" beekeeping. The techniques presented here are streamlined through decades of experimentation, adjustments and simplification. The content was written and then refined from responding to questions on bee forums over the years so it is tailored to the questions that beekeepers, new and experienced, have. It is divided into three volumes and this edition contains all three: Beginning, Intermediate and Advanced.

Editorial Reviews

From the Author

I feel like G.M. Doolittle when he said he had already offered all of what he had to say for free in the bee journals and yet people kept asking for a book. I have virtually all of this on my website and have posted all of it many times on the bee forums. But many people have asked for a book. There is a little new here, and most of it is available for free already on my web site. But many of us understand the transient nature of the medium of the web and want a solid book on our shelf. I feel the same. So here is the book that you could already have read for free but you can hold it in your hands and put it on the shelf and know you have it.

I've done a lot of presentations and a few have been posted on the web. If you have an interest in hearing some of this presented by me try a web search for videos for "Michael Bush beekeeping" or other topics such as "queen rearing".

About the Author

Michael Bush has had an eclectic set of careers from printing and graphic arts, to construction to computer programming and a few more in between. Currently he is working in computers. He has been keeping bees since the mid 70's, usually from two to seven hives up until the year 2000. Varroa forced more experimentation which required more hives and the number has grown steadily over the years from then. By 2008 it was about 200 hives. He is active on many of the Beekeeping forums with last count at about 45,000 posts between all of them.

"His writing is like his talks, with more content, detail, and depth than one would think possible with such few words...his website and PowerPoint presentations are the gold standard for diverse and common sense beekeeping practices."--Dean Stiglitz

Product Details

• Hardcover: 674 pages
• Publisher: X-STAR PUBLISHING COMPANY (June 16, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1614760640
• ISBN-13: 978-1614760641
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 1.6 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (85 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #17,206 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #10 in Books > Professional & Technical > Professional Science > Agricultural Sciences > Sustainable Agriculture
  • #13 in Books > Professional & Technical > Professional Science > Biological Sciences > Animals > Insects & Spiders
  • #24 in Books > Professional & Technical > Professional Science > Agricultural Sciences > Animal Husbandry

More About the Author

Michael Bush is one of the leading proponents of treatment free beekeeping. He has been keeping bees since the mid 70's, usually from two to seven hives up until the year 2000. Varroa forced more experimentation which required more hives and the number has grown steadily over the years from then. By 2008 it was about 200 hives. He is active on many of the Beekeeping forums with last count at more than 50,000 posts between all of them. He has had an eclectic set of careers from printing and graphic arts, to construction to computer programming and a few more in between. Currently he is working in computers. He has a web site on beekeeping at www.bushfarms.com/bees.htm

"His writing is like his talks, with more content, detail, and depth than one would think possible with such few words...his website and PowerPoint presentations are the gold standard for diverse and common sense beekeeping practices."--Dean Stiglitz

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book! September 3, 2011

By NVBeek

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I have visited Michael Bush's website for quite some time and was excited when I heard that he was writing a book. Michael will tell you that you can get the same info for free from his website, which you can. I was not sure about paying $49 for a book, but after reading it the last two days I can say that it is definitely worth the money. I am a relatively new beekeeper, my first hives died even while treating them for disease. I decided that this time I would try a different approach. Michael's book offers different views and practices on beekeeping. I like the way he approaches beekeeping. I plan on running a few hives in the more traditional manner at a friend's house and use Michael's ideas on my 6 hives at my house. I am excited to put his ideas and writings into action at my place. I already started making notes on the inner cover of the book to reference. The book is well written with a ton of info. My only complaint is the quality of the pictures. Some color pictures would have been nice, but then again I can go to his website and look up whatever pics I need to see. Good job on the book Michael, I will definitely recommend this book to all of my beekeeping friends.

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars the practical beekeeper August 31, 2011

By Lonna Manthe

Format:Hardcover

I recommend this book to anyone seeking a common sense approach to beekeeping. Written with easy to understand language suitable for experienced and new beekeepers. Especially appreciated by this reader are the methods used for those of us with backs no longer able to heft 60 lb (plus) boxes. This is a book that all beekeepers should consider adding to their librairy, especially if interested in keeping bees as natually as possible.

Thomas and Lonna Manthe

36 of 39 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Michael Bush's Book is Finally Here July 22, 2011

By Solomon Parker

Format:Hardcover

It's finally here. Michael Bush has crafted and molded the information on his website into book form. I was fortunate enough to help him proof-read it a bit and got to read the first copy at his home in Nebraska. Over the years, Mike has collected an astounding amount of information. His decades of experience have given us younger beekeepers the benefit of not having to try everything for ourselves. And Mike HAS tried just about everything. Visiting his place, I was in wonder to see all sorts of beekeeping contraptions and equipment that I had never seen before.

More than all that, Mr. Bush is one of the leading and most visible proponents of treatment-free beekeeping. He shows how to keep bees without toxic chemicals, pesticides, and anti-biotics. He has years and many tens of thousands of posts under his belt in any and every online beekeeping forum. He has proven his willingness to help anyone who asks.

If you are a beekeeper or want to become one, you should not be without this book.