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Homegrown Honey Bees: An Absolute Beginner's Guide to Beekeeping Your First Year, from Hiving to Honey Harvest Paperback – January 29, 2013

by Alethea Morrison (Author), Mars Vilaubi (Photographer)
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 290 ratings
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Discover the joys of harvesting honey from your own backyard.  Alethea Morrison outlines what you’ll need to know to make it through the first year, while stunning macrophotography by Mars Vilaubi brings the inner workings of the hive to life. With in-depth discussions of allergies, colony hierarchy, bee behavior, and more, this approachably informative guide bursts with enthusiastic encouragement. Keep your own bees, and enjoy the sweet buzz.

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  1. Print length
    160 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Storey Publishing, LLC
  4. Publication date
    January 29, 2013
  5. Dimensions
    7.12 x 0.55 x 9 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1603429948
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1603429948
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

Homegrown Honey Bees introduces the basic procedures, possibilities, and pleasures of keeping bees. Spectacular macro photography brings the inner workings of the hive to life, while the passionate, playful text leads the beginning beekeeper through the first year. All the primary concerns and questions are addressed, from allergies, permits and restrictions, and potential issues with the neighbors to hive structure, colony hierarchy, and bee behavior. Beekeepers Alethea Morrison and Mars Vilaubi chronicle the happening in their own hive and share the challenges of their first year, from replacing a failing queen bee to sustaining a colony over a cold winter, as well as the reward of tasting their first honey harvest. Beginners, dreamers, families, and educators will find this highly visual reference an indispensible guide to becoming a confident, happy beekeeper.

―Jenna Woginrich, author of Barnheart and Made from Scratch

This book is exactly what its subtitle describes it as - an absolute beginner's guide to keeping bees. Written and illustrated in full color by a couple who not too long ago were neophyte beekeepers themselves, it aims to first capture readers' interest in the fun and fascination of this hobby and then give them basic information needed to get through their first year keeping bees.

From the Back Cover

Beekeeping 1-2-3

Essential information to see you through the first year -- from inspecting the hive to avoiding stings

Keeping bees is fun and fascinating and stocks your pantry with liquid gold. Who could ask more of a hobby? With practical instruction and personal observations, Alethea Morrison guides you in choosing equipment and managing healthy colonies through every season. Profiles of urban beekeepers offer advice on keeping hives in cities, and Mars Vilaubi's up-close photography reveals the inner workings of a busy hive, the anatomy of a honey bee, and much more.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Storey Publishing, LLC; 1st edition (January 29, 2013)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 160 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1603429948
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1603429948
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.08 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7.12 x 0.55 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 290 ratings

About the author

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Alethea Morrison

Alethea Morrison

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Alethea Morrison and photographer Mars Vilaubi lived in San Francisco before stepping into the wild yonder of rural Massachusetts to raise their son, keep bees and chickens, brew beer, sew clothes, grow heirloom beans, and otherwise slow down to smell the flowers of a handmade life. Their experience raising chickens was chronicled in Chick Days and they co-authored Homegrown Honey Bees, an absolute beginner's guide to keeping bees. They both work as creative professionals, and Alethea serves as president of the Northern Berkshire Beekeepers Association.

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7 out of 5
290 global ratings
Beautifully illustrated and informative book for a new bee-keeper
5 Stars
Beautifully illustrated and informative book for a new bee-keeper
I love the helpful information that instructs on all aspects of first-year bee-keeping. Easy to read and understand. Gives an educated view of the bees, their types, their challenges and their needs. Easy to read and extremely helpful.
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Top reviews from the United States

Samantha Anastasiou
5.0 out of 5 stars THIS BOOK HAS IT ALL!!!!!!!!!
Reviewed in the United States on February 3, 2013
Verified Purchase
Hello,
Let me pre-face my review by saying I don't normally write reviews, but, here goes.
I had to on this one, because, this book has been wonderfully enjoyed by me and my two kids for many reasons.
It is a wonderfully written, informative how to book that takes you through something as daunting to myself as bee-keeping and it has opened up a whole new world of fun possibilities for me and my two kids! Seriously!
I bought the book on a whim, for many reasons, one, I like collecting books on crafting, do-it-your self projects, you name it, and.... I always have this goal of farm to table adventures, and bee-keeping is for me the top.... a secret wish that I never thought I'd actually be able to do.
Then arrives this book!
Firstly, it is really well-written. Not one of those how to books you just thumb through and mark pages...it has great stories about people doing small hives and showing you how you can too! I love that, it is very personal, and you instantly feel part of a fun community. It is easy to understand, and keeps you engaged with facts and everything you need to know-isms without being pretentious, dull, or repetitive. My daughter did a science project on honey bees and how important they are to our eco-system, and she was excited that that information was in there, too, a long with so much more we didn't know. We read the whole book together in just a couple of days, and have started our own plan! We are REALLY EXCITED!!
There are a lot of really great photos, and the photos are just beautiful, it is such a picturesque book, and I can't say enough of how the book is just really, really cute, and pretty, I love all the artwork and the layout of the pages, and the way the sections and chapters are organized, it is wonderful to remember it all, it flows really nicely.... It was really fun reading with my kids, and we are excited about starting our own hive this spring, it's really fun to think of all that is possible and involved with bee-keeping, who knew? You have to get this book and find out!!! I definitely recommend this book to anyone who is interested in something to read about with their kids, or who loves crafts, hobbys, gardening, and, of course bees!
I will definitely be looking for more books from this author!
14 people found this helpful
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dg
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book on beekeeping
Reviewed in the United States on March 16, 2024
Verified Purchase
I first saw this book in a library, and saw that it has a lot of information and with excellent photos. I am a beginning beekeeper, and I have several books on the subject. This one excels with the basics and photos.
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C. Forster
5.0 out of 5 stars Best Beekeeping Book for Beginners
Reviewed in the United States on February 3, 2013
Verified Purchase
This is the book I wish existed when I started beekeeping in 2008. Loaded with photos and step-by-step instructions, it's one of the few books that will help you survive your first year, especially if you don't have a mentor. As the co-chair of the Albuquerque beekeepers group (400 strong) for the past 3 years, here's why I think beginner beeks will be especially well-supported by the approach in this book.

PROS:

- STEP-BY-STEP instructions are included for a variety of beginner tasks like installing a package, lighting a smoker, and conducting your first hive check. Seasoned beekeepers often forget how scary these first steps can be.

- PHOTOS, PHOTOS, PHOTOS! Everything from eggs and larvae to wax festooning to varroa mites to Nasonov fanning gets a gorgeous photo. I can't emphasize enough the importance of visual learning when it comes to beekeeping.

- A PERSONAL STORYLINE. This book follows the author's experience keeping backyard bees with her family. The good the bad and the ugly details are all included, making for a very forgiving and human narrative.

- INTERVIEWS WITH LOCAL BEEKS. Backyard beekeepers from San Francisco to Austin to Chicago are highlighted throughout the book. (I'm on page 47.) The sheer variety of beekeepers presented makes a new beek feel comfortable developing their own unique approach.

- A NATURAL APPROACH. Most books I used in my first year were very chemical-centric and solely devoted to Langstroth hives. This book primarily covers Langstroth hives but also discusses top bar hives and pays more than just lip-service to a chemical-free approach.

CONS:

- Once you have a full year of beekeeping under your belt, you'll want to move on to more substantial reference books like "The Beekeeper's Handbook" or "The Practical Beekeeper."
54 people found this helpful
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gumnut
4.0 out of 5 stars Very good for beginners
Reviewed in the United States on July 8, 2013
Verified Purchase
While experienced beekeepers might not like this book, it is a good one if you thinking about keeping bees. It is beautifully made with lots of pictures and an easy read. It shows you what is involved in keeping bees. I would not like to start keeping bees with this book alone, but you get a feeling what work you will have to do and what you have to look for. The only disadvantage of this book is that it does not discuss deeply enough the different forms of hives (top bar and warre). What they write is not enough to make a decision with which hive one should start to begin.
3 people found this helpful
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Trevor J. Riches
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Introduction to Beekeeping
Reviewed in the United States on July 20, 2014
Verified Purchase
This is a fabulous book for the beginning beekeeper or anyone wishing to be more informed about Honey Bees.
The text ,whilst well thought out and professional,is easy to follow and not overly complicated.
When a book is written,on any subject,it is easy for the author to loose sight of the fact that they need to explain things that may be second nature to them but difficult for the reader to comprehend. Alethea is sensible of this and does a super job of taking you by the hand through all the steps necessary for you to understand what it is she is writing about.
Additionally the illustrations are first rate,some of the best photographs and depictions I have ever seen in one Beekeeping book. A picture is worth a thousand words and these are top notch!
It is evident that this is a book that will be very successful...........
6 people found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Great read!
Reviewed in the United States on September 13, 2023
Verified Purchase
I really enjoyed this book. I have been keeping bees for 6 years but still learned a lot of new things. I enjoyed the pictures and the easy to understand language- especially about the topics that I find challenging. I plan to re-read this over the layers winter so I can be prepared to put into action the new things I learned.
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Top reviews from other countries

Amazon purchaser
5.0 out of 5 stars Love it
Reviewed in Canada on April 8, 2022
Verified Purchase
I borrowed this book from the library and liked it so much that I decided to add it to my book collection. I am learning as much as I can before I keep bees and found this book very informative and laid out in a manner that was useful to me.
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S. Campbell
5.0 out of 5 stars Good informative book
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 25, 2021
Verified Purchase
Very good book for the beginner
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Green India
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in India on February 3, 2018
Verified Purchase
Good book for Honey yard lover
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Ben J Schmidt
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book for a Newbie
Reviewed in Canada on October 29, 2015
Verified Purchase
I picked up this book to get an idea if becoming an urban beekeeper would be something I would want to do. This book is fun to read, not what I was expecting from a technical book.
It provided the information I wanted in an easy to read format . Thanks !
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nicole kirkham
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 2, 2014
Verified Purchase
Gave this as a present and they loved it. They are buying the bees next spring.
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