Beginning Beekeeper

Introduction:  p. 4

Questions to Answer Before Becoming a Beekeeper: p. 5

Helping Honey Bees and Native Pollinators Without Becoming a Beekeeper:  p. 6 – 7

Chapter 1, Bee Hives, Protective Clothing, Tools, and Site Location:  p. 8 – 20

Part I, Popular Kinds of Hives: p. 8 – 16

Part II, Protective Clothing: p. 16 — 17

Part III, Tools: p. 17 – 18

Part IV, Hive Location: p. 18 – 20

Part V, Bee Journal: p. 20

Chapter 2, Honey Bees: p. 21 – 30

Part I, History: p. 21

Part II, Honey Bee Breeds and Strains: p. 21 – 22

Part III, Ordering Honey Bees: p. 23

Part IV, Bee Castes and Their Roles in the Colony: p. 24– 26

Part V, Bee Anatomy and Development: p. 27 – 30

Chapter 3, Supplemental Feed: p. 31 – 34

Part I, Supplemental Feeders: p. 31 – 33

Part II, What to Feed & How Long to Feed: p. 33 – 34

Chapter 4, Installing a Package or NUC: 35 — 42

Part I, Installing a Package: p. 35 – 40

Part II, Installing a NUC: p. 41 – 42

Chapter 5, Monitoring the Hive: p. 43 – 47

Part I, Observe the Outside First: p. 43 — 44

Part II, Looking Inside the Hive: p.44 — 45

Part III, Brood Pattern: p. 45 – 46

Part IV, When to Add More Space: p. 46 — 47

Chapter 6, Swarms: p. 48 – 51

Part I, Swarm Prevention: p. 48 – 49

Part II, Preparing to Swarm: p. 49 — 50

Part III, Secondary or After Swarms: p.50

Part IV, Catching a Swarm: p. 50 – 51

Chapter 7, Honey Flow: p. 52 – 56

Part I, Is the Honey Flow On: p. 52

Part II, Flowering Plants and When They Bloom: p. 52 – 56

Chapter 8, Honey: p. 57 – 59

Part I, How Much to Leave for the Colony: p. 57 – 58

Part II, Harvesting: p. 58 – 59

Chapter 9, Preparing for Overwintering and Seeing the Results in the Spring: p. 60 – 64

Part I, Merging Colonies: p. 60

Part II, Treating for Varroa Mites: p. 60

Part III, Supplemental Feed: p. 60 – 61

Part IV, Protection from Winter Weather: p. 61 – 62

Part V, The Cluster; p. 62

Part VI, In the Spring, Overwintered Hives: p. 62 – 64

Chapter 10, Pests and Diseases: p. 65 – 74

Part I, Pests: p. 65 – 72

Part II, Diseases and Conditions: p. 72 – 74

Appendix I: Calendar of Beekeeping Activities p. 75 – 77

Appendix II: Recipes for Supplemental Feed p. 78 – 80

Bibliography and Additional Resources: p. 81 – 82