My Review: The Beekeeper’s Problem Solver

Title: The Beekeeper’s Problem Solver: 100 Common Problems Explored and Explained

Author: James E. Tew

About the Author: James E. Tew is an experienced beekeeper and apiary expert. His expertise and practical approach to beekeeping make this book an invaluable resource for anyone involved in this field.

Overview: “The Beekeeper’s Problem Solver” is a comprehensive guide that addresses 100 common problems faced by beekeepers. The book is designed to be a practical resource, providing clear explanations of the underlying causes of these problems and offering solutions to each of them.

Content: The book is organized into several categories, making it easy for readers to navigate and find solutions to specific problems. These categories include:

• Beekeeping Basics: This section covers fundamental issues that may arise when starting out in beekeeping.
• Beekeeping Equipment: Here, the author discusses common problems related to the tools and equipment used in beekeeping.
• Biology and Behavior of the Colony: This section delves into the intricacies of bee behavior and colony dynamics.
• Managing and Manipulating Hives: This part of the book offers insights into hive management and manipulation techniques.
• Queen Production and Maintenance: This section focuses on the queen bee, discussing issues related to her production and maintenance.
• Diseases and Pests of Honey Bees: Here, the author explores common diseases and pests that can affect honey bees and provides solutions for dealing with them.
• Pollen and Pollination: This section discusses issues related to pollen and pollination.
• Producing and Processing Honey: This part of the book offers practical advice on honey production and processing.
• Beeswax, Propolis, and Specialty Issues: This section covers issues related to beeswax and propolis, as well as other specialty issues in beekeeping.

Each problem is tackled in depth, offering a range of practical tips and useful insights. The book features color photography throughout, providing visual aids to enhance understanding.

Additional Features: The book includes a glossary of terms at the back, making it a comprehensive resource for both new and experienced beekeepers. It is printed in English and spans 224 pages. The physical dimensions of the book are 6.75 x 0.75 x 9.65 inches. The ISBN-10 is 1631590359, and the ISBN-13 is 978-1631590351.

Conclusion: “The Beekeeper’s Problem Solver: 100 Common Problems Explored and Explained” is more than just a book; it’s a tool, a guide, and a companion for anyone involved in the rewarding yet challenging world of beekeeping.

My Opinion

This incredibly useful beekeeping book, published in 2015, seems to have stuck around because it follows a format – tested in other areas but seemingly new for beekeeping – that beekeepers almost seem to have been crying out for.

The book focuses on beekeeping problems (a neat hundred of them), which addresses one of the more fraught corners of beekeeping. The general principles of beekeeping do not change, beekeeping technology changes only slowly, but the snags, pitfalls, and general problems of beekeeping seem to change year on year.

The pathogens and diseases that harm bees, for example, are constantly changing in relative prevalence from area to area. Furthermore, the early warning signs of bee ill health can be pretty tricky to spot while other hive problems are the result of ill-preparation months before. This all means that the way to solve the problems is to know about them before they happen! If you would like to know about all sorts of beekeeping problems (and in many cases, before they happen) then this book will make for a valuable addition to your library.

It is, however, far from exhaustive. The 100 situations here do not span everything that is likely to go wrong in a hive and, being a few years old, it’s just beginning to lag a bit behind the latest information (especially concerning diseases). The book makes no pretense that it is for anything but identifying these problems (which are often difficult to identify) so you will have to look elsewhere for detailed information on implementing the solution.

That said, this book will tell you what the solution is – and often for problems that you would otherwise not notice. Therein lies its value.

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