Healthy Bees, Heavy Hives, Donohoe, Horton
Healthy Bees, Heavy Hives
Following on from Honey Farming by R.O.B. Manley (1946), and Honey By The Ton by Oliver Field (1983), Steve Donohoe and Paul Horton have produced a stunning book on beekeeping today, with a focus on increasing honey production. Clear diagrams and beautiful photographs complement a relaxed writing style which is both enjoyable and informative to read.
Paul is a successful bee farmer in Lincolnshire who consistently achieves honey yields exceeding 130 lbs (59 kg) per hive. He regularly moves bees to crops, and provides detailed information on how best to do this. As a former bee inspector he is well placed to advise on keeping honey bees healthy. Steve is the author of the popular book Interviews With Beekeepers, and has spent many years learning from more experienced beekeepers and passing on their wisdom.
VIEW Contents
- Foreword
- General Principles
- Getting Bees Through Winter
- Early Spring
- Bee Hives & Equipment
- Queens
- Diseases & Pests
- Plants For Bees
- Swarm Prevention & Control
- Migratory Beekeeping
- Staying Put
- Harvesting, Processing and Selling Honey
- Acknowledgements
- Appendix: Honey Harvest by Crop: 2020–2022
VIEW Book Review
Reviewed by Ann Chilcott (Scottish Expert Beemaster) and author of THE BEELISTENER
The authors of Healthy Bees, Heavy Hives are well-known in UK beekeeping circles. Steve Donohoe, author of the acclaimed work, Interviews with Beekeepers, is an experienced beekeeper, popular blogger, and Editor of Bee Farmer Magazine. Paul Horton is a successful second-generation bee farmer, and former Government Bee Inspector.
The foreword, written by Scottish bee farmer Murray McGregor, endorses the importance of this book for all beekeepers at every level, but especially those getting into bee farming. There are 11 chapters and 224 pages containing many beautiful illustrations. Clear, coloured photographs and detailed drawings and graphs enhance this publication and compliment the text. One particularly useful diagram charts the population of brood and bees over the early season and advises us when to add supers. The font is eye-pleasing and comfortingly large for some of us.
One of the features that marks this book out from others is the well-organised structure and writing style. The summary at the end of each chapter is spot on and useful. It stands out in yellow and black bumble bee colours and lists the important points covered in the chapter. The writing style is authoritative but friendly and easy going. The material is presented in a clear concise way that speaks to the reader as if with a mentor in the apiary talking over a hive. The language is clear and explanations are simple and effective.
The title is a clue to the content and we are guided through the beekeeping year of a beekeeper whose goal is to produce and profit from honey made by healthy bees. The authors are clear from the start that, “this is not about exploiting your bees”, and that making money from selling honey involves a larger number of colonies than hobbyists manage, and that migratory beekeeping is key to Horton’s success. His average yearly harvest per colony between 2019- 2022 was 68.55kg. We are reminded that all beekeeping is regional and success is influenced by climate and weather, so what works well for one person in a certain part of the country might not produce the good results for someone in another region.
The authors share similar goals and evidence-based best-practice strategies, but they have different management styles which complement each other and make this book so interesting. They communicate and engage with other beekeepers across the world and this helps to keep the information fresh and current. For beekeepers expanding and improving their businesses, the main advice is to adopt and work their own systems. This book serves as a practical handbook to guide people on this journey, and it is jam-packed with good advice and tips. You must buy the book to discover them for yourself, but I shall be sharpening my curved-ended hive tool in time for the next honey harvest!
Maintaining honey bee health and welfare is key to the authors’ success and the chapters covering pests and diseases, and plants for bees are highly relevant for every beekeeper. The latter forms a forage diary for Horton’s migratory year and is most useful as it includes recommended hive densities per hectare for each different crop. The last chapter discusses harvesting, processing, and marketing honey under the pristine conditions of Horton’s state-of-the-art premises. They even manage to squeeze in some advice on managing beekeeping finances and record keeping. This book is a must-have for every bee farmer, people curious to know what bee farming involves, and those keen to increase their honey production.
If any changes are made in future reprints, then I hope a reference/bibliography list will be added.
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