Barking up the wrong Bee
~Beekeeping Reinvented~
Books that are awesome and a few
Game-changing tools!
I have tried and tested lots of beekeeping equipment that impressed me or did the opposite of impressing me. I want to share with you the literature that has seriously increased my success in beekeepery and why. I also have some basic tool recommendations that have made subtle improvements in my experience as a beekeeper. If you have any questions about anything here, click the Contact button at the top of the page. By contacting me, I can give you a better idea about something that you may be considering for yourself.
Thanks and Enjoy!
American Honey Plants/by Dadant- This book greatly increased my awareness of what type of honey bee forage is available in my area. It's one thing to know what your bees are making on a honey flow but what about before, in between and after? When you know what is blooming and when, then you can anticipate your bees' needs ahead of time.
Honey in the Comb/by Dadant- There are two major advantages inside of this book. This has in depth 'how-to' on making your own honeycomb. It goes over equipment and method. The second thing is beekeeping equipment that offers greater ventilation than traditional stuff. If you haven't experienced the advantages of improved ventilation then check this out.
The ABC and XYZ of Bee Culture/by Dadant- In my opinion, this is great to have on the shelf as a general and specific resource for any beekeeper. It's pretty much a large collection of research studies and their results. It covers just about anything in great detail except for how to make honeycomb. (Believe me, I looked). This book can be pricey but the knowledge inside could very well save one of your beehives, and how much is that worth to you?
Italian Style Hive Tool/by SULTAN- A simple looking hive tool that I have found to be extremely helpful. Compared to others I've used, this one: has better leverage for prying, is lighter weight, and has a slimmer profile that helps with not accidentally squishing a lot of bees. Sound horrible I know. Just go with it.
VINGLI Two-Frame Hand-crank Extractor- I got myself a highfalutin big-time two-frame extractor last summer and I love it! It's stainless steel with a really sturdy hand crank. It takes no time at all to spin my honey out the frames. It has a two-part, clear lid on top so you can see the honey sling!
Square Folding Veil/by Mann Lake- This was my very first beekeeping veil. I don't have it anymore but I'm seriously considering getting it again. It's quick and easy to put on and it folds away flat when you don't need it. There's a lot of times that I don't need my full jacket. This veil is perfect for those times but can be used with a jacket just as well.
Varrox Oxalic Acid Vaporizer- I have used three different vaporizers and this one is by far my favorite one. Here's why: It has a 6-foot, high quality cord leading to two really nice battery clamps. The 'cowl' that is mounted at the bowl prevents the unit from tipping during use. And it can be cooled by dipping in a bucket of water so that you can move on to the next hive quickly. I say go for it!
Oxalic Acid by Florida Laboratories- This is the very same bag that I use. It's a two-pound bag but if have a lot of hives I would use the 10-pound bag. It goes a long way. Make sure to keep it somewhere dry and away from heat.