21st Century Homestead: Beekeeping contains everything you need to stay up to date on beekeeping.

21st Century Homestead: Urban Agriculture contains everything you need to stay up to date on urban agriculture

Bee Keeping with ZEST by Bill Summers This is a book like no other on the subject of honey bees. It addresses the author s belief and that of his colleague (Dave Durrant) that the welfare of honey bees in a traditional hive fails to provide for their needs as biological systems. This realisation led to the design of the ZEST hive which does do so. It deploys a longitudinal external envelope, with top bee entry and trickle ventilation, made from lightweight insulated building blocks and plastic lattice frames within which the bees draw out their wild honeycomb. The former is DIY from builders merchants and the latter available in boxes of 12. The external envelope is not just a lightweight insulated one, but is sufficiently heavy to provide the bees with a thermal lag of an envelope that is easily thermo-regulated to 35deg, the fundamental requirement of their brood. From the honey bee perspective the ZEST hive overcomes all the problems of other hive designs and frame types. An unintended consequence of the ZEST hive design has been to eliminate varroa. The ZEST is functionally free of it. This is witnessed by the hive debris. The cause seems to be the smaller natural cell size and natural warmth of the hive envelope, both of which speed the biological process of honey bee pupation. The time available for the varroa to mature in the pupating cells is reduced. Their numbers fall to zero rather than rises exponentially. This book and its thesis will prove to be seminal in the drive to solve the problems of honey bee health in all its aspects and manifestations. There has been a recent doubling of beekeepers in the country caused by the ecologically minded seeking to assist honey bees in a better environment. This can be applauded. This book is to assist them and their bees. The ZEST hive is democratic. Anyone can have one. It is cheap, appropriate and amenable to a more self-sufficient way of life. It is a living sustainable system, not a product. It can be entirely D.I.Y. No one owns it. It can be free. Take it. Use it. Have fun. The ZEST hive does a great deal more with a great deal less.

If you're looking to find proven and effective ways to start turning your home into a self-sufficient homestead, you've come to the right place. It's about time to start seeing for yourself what you can accomplish by becoming more independent. A little backyard homestead can turn your home into a castle that you can depend on, even on the harshest days. You don't have to worry about the lack of experience with farming or raising animals if you closely follow the detailed steps mentioned in this book. From picking species of flowers for your backyard to making your first beehive, this book will be your best guide. Here's what you can expect to learn from our guides. Understand the historical roots of homesteading and what made it a lucrative option for many individuals in the past. Learn from an overview of the most recommended tools that you'll need when it comes to gardening and beekeeping. Gain insight into what makes a specific design or setup more suitable for you than others. Learn how to look for the ideal types of flowers that suit your garden in various climates. Find input that helps you design the perfect garden for your backyard homestead. Learn how to till soil and plant flowers quickly. Learn from tips that help you keep your garden in tip-top shape. Know what to consideration when you're still a beginner beekeeper. Find out how you can make your own DIY beehive from A to Z. There is no need to worry about messing your homestead garden up or mistreating your bees when you have this valuable resource in your possession. While this book will certainly make things easier, it's still your responsibility to put in the required effort if you want to reap the rewards. Click the Buy Now button to get started with this amazing guide for backyard homesteading for the urban house.

A review of 15 topics important to bees and beekeeping in the 21st century. Report of a symposium to honor Roger Hoopingarner at his retirement from Michigan State University. Reports of 15 research laboratories from around the world.

21st Century Homestead: Organic Farming contains everything you need to stay up to date on organic farming.