What Bees Want: Beekeeping as Nature Intended

by Susan Knilans, Jacqueline Freeman

Overview

Bee populations are plummeting. The solution? Give them what they need to live naturally, and they’ll handle the rest.

Susan Knilans and Jacqueline Freeman are in love with bees. So in love that they observe their bees—their work, communication, seasonal activity, and more—for hours each day. And with observation came realization: when bees are allowed to live as they would in nature (with smaller hives, no chemicals, freedom to swarm, and little-to-no human interference), they will thrive. Accordingly, Knilans and Freeman have spent decades perfecting the revolutionary practice of preservation beekeeping, guided by the simple question, “What do the bees want?”

A surprising page-turner, this instructional book tells the story of their successes and failures, demonstrating what was learned along the way. Sharing preservation beekeeping’s key tenets, the authors provide concrete, simple ways to implement their approach, from finding the right hive location to honing observation skills. This preservation manifesto is a vital addition to any beekeeper’s library, imparting all the joys of a beekeeper's life.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781682686744
Publisher:	Countryman Press, The
Publication date:	02/22/2022
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	256
File size:	19 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Susan Knilans teaches beekeeping and speaks about preservation beekeeping at international honeybee conferences. She is the author of Animals as Teachers and Healers. She lives in Washington.
Jacqueline Freeman teaches beekeeping and speaks about preservation beekeeping at international honeybee conferences. She is the author of Song of Increase. She lives in Washington.

Table of Contents

Foreword: The Road to Freedom xi

Preface: Following the Bees xv

Part 1 The Journey to Preservation Beekeeping

1 When the Bees Came 3

2 The Value of My Mistakes 11

3 Building Confidence 21

4 Sacred Swarms 29

5 Better with Friends 35

6 Steady Growth 43

7 Bee-Longing 53

Part 2 Preservation Beekeeping: Healthy Bees and a Kinder World

8 Understanding the Bee Family 65

9 Choosing Hives that Help Bees Thrive 77

10 The Right Location for Your Bees 97

11 Do Not Disturb 101

12 Acquiring Bees: Swarms and Bait Hives 107

13 Bee Language 119

14 Water for Bees 131

15 Plant Like Crazy 137

16 Offering Food and Gathering Honey 143

17 Treating Bees with Chemicals-A No-No 151

18 When a Queen Dies 163

Epilogue: Returning to the Bien 171

Acknowledgments 175

Resources 177

Appendix 1 Species Protection 181

Appendix 2 Darwinian Beekeeping 215

Index 231

Editorial Reviews

01/01/2022

Beekeepers and beekeeping instructors Knilans (Animals as Teachers & Healers) and Freeman (Song of Increase) discuss the practice of "preservation beekeeping" or "natural beekeeping," where the bees' needs (not the beekeepers') are prioritized. Knilans begins by chronicling what she learned during her early days of keeping honeybees, which involved multiple failed hives. The second part of the book is an overview of preservation beekeeping, in which domesticated bees are housed in conditions that mimic as closely as possible how they would live in the wild. It covers bee biology, choosing and locating hives, acquiring bees through swarms and bait hives, bee language, plantings and water features for bees, and what to do when a queen dies. The authors advocate a low-chemical approach and not disturbing the hives (backed with research) and discuss the hours of pleasure they receive from observing the activities of hives, their mystical connection to their bees, and how the bees have impacted their lives. At the end of the book are resources and appendices on species protection and Darwinian beekeeping. VERDICT An informative, captivating look at natural beekeeping useful for backyard beekeepers and anyone fascinated by bees; however, not for those looking to maximize honey production.—Sue O'Brien

Library Journal