In becoming a beekeeper you will enjoy a fascinating and wide ranging hobby as well as playing a vital role in the future of our planet. This book will tell you how to start keeping bees in any location, whether urban or rural. It covers everything you need to know in an accessible and clear manner, from choice of hive and health of bees; right through the bee year to harvesting and storing your own honey. As well as providing an accessible, easy-to-understand beekeeping primer for the complete beginner, this book introduces the many other possibilities that exist for a beekeeper including livestock farming of bees, apitherapy, honey cookery and a host of other activities, commercial enterprises, and areas of further study. Contents: Preface; Introduction; 1. Why Become a Beekeeper; 2. Frequently asked questions about beekeeping; 3. Hives; 4. Bees; 5. Spring - Your bees arrive; 6. Spring to summer; 7. Summer - Hive problems and the upcoming harvest; 8. Summer into Autumn - harvest day and post-harvest work; 9. Winter and beyond; 10. Bee diseases and pests; Appendices: Useful information for beekeepers; Index