Kim Flottum (d. 2023) brought a rich background of plant science, honey bee research, and basic farming to his 30 years as the editor of Bee Culture magazine, where his main occupation was finding the answers to the multitude of questions that beginning, intermediate, and even advanced and experienced beekeepers bring to the table. He taught beginning and advanced beekeeping courses, traveled extensively to educate and lecture, and contributed 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. He was the author of The Backyard Beekeeper, First Time Beekeeping, In Business with Bees, and Common Sense Natural Beekeeping. His books, magazine articles, interviews, and blogs are widely read for both their fundamental and advanced contribution to beekeeping knowledge. He was beekeeping’s leading advocate for fundamental honey bee safety, including ensuring excellent honey bee health, providing extraordinary forage, and minimizing the use of agricultural pesticides.

• PrefaceNew ChallengesTo Sum It All UpIntroductionIn the BeginningEvolution: Moving OnCHAPTER 1: Starting RightGetting StartedBeeyards Other Than Your BackyardExtreme Urban BeekeepingThe Right Tools of the TradeAnd Yes, the Right BeesCHAPTER 2: About Those BeesQueensWorkersDronesSeasonal ChangesCHAPTER 3: About BeekeepingReview and PreparationLighting Your SmokerPackage ManagementSummertime ChoresKeeping RecordsOpening a ColonyHoneycomb and Brood CombsSummertime ChoresFall and Winter ManagementEarly Next Spring InspectionsCHAPTER 4: About HoneyHoney Flow TimeHoney Harvest TimeComb Honey and Cut-Comb HoneyCHAPTER 5: Maladies, Problems, and SolutionsIPM FundamentalsVarroa NosemaChalkbroodEuropean FoulbroodAmerican FoulbroodWax MothSmall Hive BeetleOther PestsCHAPTER 6: BeeswaxBe SafeMelting BeeswaxUsing BeeswaxCHAPTER 7: 25 Rules of Modern BeekeepingQueen’s RulesBees’ RulesBeekeeping RulesVarroa RulesBeekeeper Rules                GlossaryResourcesPhotographer CreditsAbout the AuthorAcknowledgmentsIndex