Synopses & Reviews
A truly lush, radiant enthusiast's guide,
The Backyard Beekeeper's Honey Handbook goes beyond the scope of a cookbook to introduce to readers the literal cornucopia of honey varieties available. An intuitive follow-up to
The Backyard Beekeeper, this book will presume beekeeping experience but reintroduce the basics. It is an insight into the practical, back-to-the-earth beekeeping lifestyle and well as the artisan cultivation of honey varieties.
Supplementary support for this book lay in the fact that interest in tapping honey's holistic and whole-health potential dovetails nicely into the natural health and green movements. Also, honey as natural, lower-calorie sweetener has garnered positive PR by those working against the obesity epidemic.
Synopsis
A truly lush, radiant enthusiast's guide, The Backyard Beekeeper's Honey Handbook is an insight into the practical, back-to-the-earth beekeeping lifestyle and the artisan cultivation of honey varieties.
About the Author
Kim Flottum brings a background of twelve years of plant science, honey bee research, and basic farming to his thirty years as the editor of Bee Culture magazine where his main occupation is finding the answers to the multitude of questions that beginning, intermediate, and even advanced and experienced beekeepers bring to the table. He teaches beginning and advanced beekeeping courses, travels extensively to educate and lecture, and contributes to a variety of other publications on the basics of honey bees and beekeeping biology, the business of bees and pollination, producing and using varietal honeys, and a host of other subjects. His books, magazine articles, interviews, and blogs are widely read for both their fundamental and advanced contribution to beekeeping knowledge. His magazine platform gives voice to his social commentary on topics ranging from genetically modified foods to pesticide abuse to both good and bad government regulations in the industry. He is beekeeping’s leading advocate for fundamental honey bee safety including insuring excellent honey bee health, providing extraordinary forage, and minimizing the use of agricultural pesticides.
Table of Contents
Preface
Introduction: No Longer a Beginner
Chapter One: Where and Why Bees Forage
Changing Landscapes
Food Collection and Storage
Chapter Two: Guide to Honey Plants
Springtime Management for Healthy Bees
Summertime Management for Honey Production
Winterized Well
Management Summary
Some of the Better Honey Plants to Know
Chapter Three: The Honey Harvest
When is it Ready?
Coaxing the Bees
Chapter Four: Fragile: Handle With Care
The Dark Side
Handling Each Crop
Preparing the Honey House
Flow of the Honey House
Uncapping
Extracting
Post-Extraction
For Sale: Artisan Honey
Conclusion: The Wise Beekeeper
Chapter Five: Using What You and the Bees Have Made: Varietal and Artisan Honey Recipes
Making Infused Honey
Dips and Dressings
Salads
Vegetables
Entrees
Desserts
Pastries and Baked Goods
Short and Sweet
Glossary
Resources
Index
Photographer Credits
About the Author
Acknowledgements