Guilfordbeekeepers.org

Have any of you read /Fifty Years Among The Bees by Charles C. Miller? It was recommended to me by Dana Stahlman who presented to us on early spring splits. I am about 50 pages into it and am having doubts about it. It is OLD, OLD, OLD, written in 1915 so far mostly about the authors experience with 19th century beekeeping up north. If you read it, did you benefit from it?

Have you read another book you would recommend for a 4th year beekeeper interested in increasing the number of hives?

Although I am typically an avid reader and researcher, I have found beekeeping to be one of those things that I personally learn best by watching (and of course doing). There is certainly a load of junk out there (specifically thinking about the various Facebook groups), but our local hands-on classes and VERY valuable YouTube channels are my go-to.

I enjoy the "old masters" and will download pdf scans of historic books and journals from www.archive.org. My favorite is Langstroth's 3rd edition of A Practical Treatise on the Hive and the Honeybee. They didn't have the science we have now, but he had powerful powers of observation. This edition was printed from around 1857-1870, so the language can be much more flowery than current writing.

We have a link on our homepage, "Weather Research." When I'm looking at fairly current bee advice I like to determine the location of the presenter and compare weather conditions and bee seasons, especially when they are presenting about when during the year they take certain steps. (Imiries' Pink Pages, also linked on our home page). I like sponsored bee lectures from "vetted" lecturers on You Tube, and when I am looking to see about pros and cons of particular hive manipulations, I tend to look for commercial beekeepers who have to be reasonably successful to keep in business.

Hope this helps.

Reedyfork mentioned that he gets a lot from various YouTube channels. Would you mind sharing who some of your favorites are? I am always looking to expand my "diversity." The big ones for me lately are Bob Bennie, David Burns, Natures Image Farm, Jeff Horchoff (Mr. Ed), The Bee Supply.

Some aren't as active now as they were, but certainly go back and watch their older content. In addition to your list: UFhoneybeelab, Kamon Reynolds, Duck River Honey, A Canadian Beekeeper's Blog, Ashby Farms, University of Guelph, Central Beekeepers Supply, Beekeeping University, Stevens Bee Co, National Honey Show, Devan Rawn, and Mann Lake Bee Supply.