Ross Conrad

I special ordered this, based on recommendation by a friend who said it would talk about how to handle problems associated with frameless top bar hives. Not. There must be another book with a similar title, I shall just have to search further.
Which is not to say that this book is without merit, just not what I need at the moment.
I like his style of writing, intermingling his philosophy/outlook on life with his information. He does best in discussing pests & diseases--something I keep show more pretending I don't need to worry about, but given my lack of success in keeping a hive alive thru a winter the preventive tips given may be just what I need. Actually, I wish I had read about how easily bees clean up moldy comb from abandoned hives before I spent hours cutting out the moldy bits. So, all you want to know about controlling Varroa mites (almost 1/4 of the book), wax moths, small hive beetles & diseases without the use of hard chemicals.
This is not a beginner's book. His overview of equipment & working the hive is pretty minimal and scattered. I can't tell what his rationale was for including some things & not others. For example, he makes an issue of using a specific type of "frame rest protector" which is "not the kind sold by most beekeeping supply companies". I had never heard of one, & my search of Dadant came up negative. Better to say he has something useful to try & not mention something faulty that isn't standard anyway.
I just skipped over the parts saying why we should be organic--already got that, don't need to hear it again. But probably good for newcomers to hear. I know I always assumed honey was naturally organic because the bees would die if you used any chemicals on them. Well guess what, mega-beekeepers do use chemicals & now they are screaming because their bees are dying & they don't know why. Go figure.
I really liked Gary Nabhan's forward..but then I like Nabhan's ethnobotanical writing also.
2011 review. show less

Detailed, practical, well-illustrated. Advice about wax moths.

DVD featuring Vermont beekeeper Conrad's views on how to keep bees in as natural a way as possible. DVD running time: 3 hrs 13 mins.