A Lifetime of Beekeeping Mistakes (5M) Practical Hive Management, Queen Rearing, Honey Extraction, Bee Diseases, Pests, Equipment, and Colony Care

Learn practical beekeeping from a lifetime of right turns, wrong turns, and hard-won experience!

A Lifetime of Beekeeping Mistakes is a practical, approachable guide to managing successful hives, written from the voice of experience rather than academic research. Author Geoff Critchley shares what he has learned throughout his beekeeping career, focusing on the right and wrong ways of doing things so readers can benefit from real-world lessons.

This 232-page book covers the basics of beekeeping, from buying bee stocks and equipment to record keeping, establishing colonies, and growing them successfully. It also considers the merits of different hive types and provides clear advice on queens, drones, honey extraction, diseases, and pests.

• Covers hive management basics for establishing and growing successful bee colonies
• Practical guidance from experience rather than academic research
• Includes advice on bee stocks and equipment for getting started and managing hives
• Explores queens, drones, and colony development as part of successful beekeeping practice
• Addresses honey extraction, bee diseases, and pests with clear, approachable guidance

Entirely practical and grounded in a lifetime of beekeeping experience, A Lifetime of Beekeeping Mistakes is a useful guide for anyone who wants to understand hive care, avoid common errors, and build confidence with bees.

Geoff Critchley is a Master Beekeeper and has been an examiner for the British Beekeeping Association. For many years he taught beginners for Conwy Beekeeping Association and South Clwyd Beekeeping Association and has run training courses on queen rearing. Geoff at one time had as many as 60 hives and worked for 3 years as a seasonal bee inspector for the National Bee Unit.