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You might have watched Amber and her family build their own off-grid home on the Discovery Channel earlier this year. And now her book, Beekeeping for Beginners: How to Raise Your First Bee Colonies, is ready to take on the world.
I'm even more excited to be able to share a copy with one of my readers! The publisher has generously offered to sponsor a giveaway. -- GIVEAWAY ENDED --
When I first became a beekeeper three years ago, I took a day-long class that covered the basics, taught by the commercial beekeeper from whom I bought my bee package.
Then I took an online beekeeping class that lasted several weeks. It reinforced what I'd learned in the first class plus I learned a few more things. Beekeeping is an intensive subject and there is always more to learn.
So I expected to learn a bit more from Beekeeping for Beginners, but I have to admit that I learned more than I expected to.
For instance - and I think you'll get a laugh out of this - I've been wondering how to wash my bee veil - the part that keeps my face safe from the bees. I haven't seen this mentioned anywhere! So am I supposed to wash it or not? I couldn't find the answer to my probably-silly question.
Well, now I know how to tackle this job! Amber doesn't just cover the basics, she talks about the absolute-beginner-basics too - you know, those questions that make you feel like you're dumb for even asking. The questions that are SO basic that most beekeepers have probably forgotten that they once wondered that very same thing.
Not only do we need to wash our bee veil, Amber also mentioned how important it is to clean our equipment, from hive tool to feeder to smoker, and how to clean each one. Thank you, Amber!
Beekeeping for Beginners: How to Raise Your First Bee Colonies is filled with all the information you need to start your own bee colony. You'll enjoy learning about why bees are important to our world and about the different kinds of beekeepers and beekeeping techniques. Amber's unique sense of humor and point of view are infused throughout the book, making it fun to read.
You'll be well on your way to becoming an expert beekeeper with this book on your beekeeping shelf!
Beekeeping for Beginners is available for pre-order on Amazon right now and officially launches on Tuesday, June 25, 2019. Why not pre-order your copy today so you'll be one of the first to receive your copy when it's released?
~~ Giveaway Ended ~~
To celebrate the release of Beekeeping for Beginners, I'm giving away a copy! To enter, comment below and tell me what flowers you would plant (or are growing) in a bee garden. Be sure you include your email address in your comment so I can contact you if you win! (You may add spaces in your email address, type "at" instead of "@", etc., so it won't be a live link, as long as I can contact you by email.)
Here's the fine print: Giveaway is limited to U.S. residents 18 years of age and older. Giveaway begins on Monday, June 10, 2019 at 5:00 AM Central time and closes Sunday, June 16, 2019 at 11:00 PM Central time. Winner will be chosen at random on or about Monday, June 17, 2019 and will be contacted by the email address they use to enter. Winner must reply within 24 hours with their mailing address; if no reply, another winner will be chosen. Prize (a copy of Beekeeping for Beginners by Amber Bradshaw) will be mailed by the publisher.
Good luck!
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I have so many flowers in my garden for bees, I don't know where to begin. They love my catmint and my butterfly weed. Oh, and they go crazy for my lamb's ears too. I think their all-time favorite is my "bee bee tree" (Tetradium daniellii), which I believe might be invasive in certain areas of the country, but not here, thank goodness! The tree literally buzzes when it begins to flower in late summer. My email addy is dawn.w.smith at comcast.net.
ReplyDeleteI just started keeping a hive this year. I could certainly use some help, lol. I do raise lavender, salvia and a host of other flowering plants.
ReplyDeleteSheryl
I'm planting loads of flowers to attract pollinators, especially bees, since I hope to have a couple hives in the next year or so. Monarda, sunflowers, borage, poppies, zinnias, all sorts of herbs, Calendula, the list goes on and on. I would love a copy of the book!
ReplyDeleteWe have one hive, with a goal of seven. We have herbs planted for them, but I plan on building a lavender bed to add a bit of flavor to their honey. Can't wait to read the book!
ReplyDeleteWe have 4 hives for our first year. We have clover, dandelions, basswood trees, anise hyssop, just to name a few.
ReplyDeleteI started late, but have planted a bee/butterfly assortment. Also lemon balm and calendula
ReplyDeleteI want to plant all the flowers! LOL Just kidding. But I am finally starting to plant flowers in my front bed. This year I planted dahlias, cala lilies, peonies, and I hope to plant calendula, lavender, and so much more. My email is barb @making-it-home.net Thanks for posting this I would love to learn more!
ReplyDeleteI am growing lavender and calendula at the moment and will be planting black eye susans, lantana and purple coneflowers. My email is tmcamilatcomcast.net. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteI built a pollinator garden next to the vegetable garden 2 years ago. Everything in it is native. I have over 20 natives from Cone Flower to Asters and showy goldenrod. I'm trying to have a full season garden for them. I don't have bees, but would love to at some point.
ReplyDeleteThe vegetable garden is full of candula, borage, purple sage, and zennia's as well. I also have a separate herb bed with all the mints and sages in it. I love native bee's and try to do all I can for them. My email is d_hadorn "at" hotmail
Hi Kathi...what a great opportunity! I have thought about adding bees to our homestead, but our lives have been changing so much since my husband retired and started a new job. We're not even sure if we'll stay in the same place.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes to everyone with the giveaway! It looks like a wonderful book :) Congrats to Amber!
Bees love our mint and I planted sunflowers near the hives. I heard that the pollen is beneficial to honeybees.
ReplyDeleteslrdowney at hotmail dot com
What a WONDERFUL giveaway!! It sounds like a wonderful reference book that everyone even remotely considering beekeeping should read!
ReplyDeleteI have a raised garden with a mixture of flowers, herbs, and vegetables. I would love to start a hive and find a way to make my environment more hospitable to bees. Thanks for all you're doing to keep the bees happy and thriving! brisonca@aol.com
ReplyDelete