Bookshelf

CANDLEMAKING FOR PROFIT - A PRACTICAL GUIDE FOR SMALL-SCALE PRODUCERS

Robert Aley 2011 99 pages £10.99 (€16.50) A100

An excellent text detailing all the essential considerations for creating a business from candle making. Chapters include explanation of why a feasibility study is necessary, aspects it should cover, how to do it and how to interpret it; business planning; marketing; materials, equipment and techniques; premises, workspace and stock control, and innovation and design. Finally three interesting case studies from Nepal, Swaziland and UK add great inspiration to this practical and useful text. Very highly recommended.

TWO MILLION BLOSSOMS - DISCOVERING THE MEDICINAL BENEFITS OF HONEY

Kirsten S Traynor 2011 274 pages £12.99 (€19.50) T100

This new book fills an empty niche on the bookshelf: a description of the medicinal benefits of honey, based on historical documents, scientific research and professional clinical practice. However it is much more than that. The author is a honey bee biologist who has gained a world perspective of her subject, and here presents many insights into the ways honey has been rediscovered by the modern medical community: to heal chronic wounds, beat antibiotic-resistant bacteria, eliminate tissue scarring and many other curative properties. Full of interesting anecdotes and quotations, the title of this excellent book comes from the author's own description of honey: “Two million blossoms in a jar, the scent of spring, fresh, sweet, with a hint of citrus, spills over your tongue, wafts delicately through your nostrils, as you taste nature’s first sweetener - pure, natural honey”.

TRAVELS IN BLOOD AND HONEY - BECOMING A BEEKEEPER IN KOSOVO

Elizabeth Gowing 2011 250 pages £13.99 (€21) G100

A unique travel book about Kosovo, beekeeping and food! Elizabeth Gowing is an English woman who, while living in Kosovo, was presented with a bee hive and thus a way into the culture of bees and beekeeping, and ultimately to great appreciation of the nation. One of the beekeeping communities described is the project run by ‘Women for Women’, while other beekeepers met along her way include political activists, victims of trafficking, and retired guerrilla warriors. Well written and interesting.

PLANTS AND PLANTING PLANS FOR A BEE GARDEN

Maureen Little 2012 256 pages £15.99 (€24) L100

Another new and original book about creating bee friendly spaces in gardens. This text is written primarily for UK gardeners, and the plants described are those that thrive well in our temperate climate. Why do we bother with purely ornamental plants that provide no food for insects? The garden designs and layouts provide great incentive to always plant for bees and thereby of course, other insects, birds and many other species contributing to biodiversity.

ESSAYS IN BEEKEEPING HISTORY

Karl Showler 2011 272 pages £20 (€30) S105

A text full of delight for those interested in the history of beekeeping in Europe and North America. Karl Showler has extensive knowledge of this craft and its related literature - enabling him to provide much detail. On each page of this book, compiled from essays he prepared over the years for the UK’s Bee Craft magazine, are facts and anecdotes about bee personalities. Accompanied by a selection of interesting black and white illustrations.

BEES IN THE CITY

Alison Benjamin and Brian McCallum 2011 247 pages Hardcover £13.99 (€21) B100

The first part of this new book introduces us to aspiring beekeepers amongst young, urban British professionals, with examples of beekeeping being integrated within school, office, business and community situations. Part two discusses how to make the urban environment better for bees – with the example of Newcastle upon Tyne, the UK’s most bee-friendly city, where political will and leadership developed a bee strategy, now implemented city-wide with enthusiastic support from schools, conservation organisations, business, parks and gardens. Part three describes the practical aspects of becoming an urban beekeeper – including interesting interviews with established beekeepers. Plenty of up to date information for new and existing beekeepers, creating an encouraging, upbeat review of the current UK situation.

POLLINATION BIOLOGY - BIODIVERSITY, CONSERVATION AND AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION

Dharam P Abrol 2012 821 pages Hardcover £142 (€213) A105

A comprehensive review of the sector, with 23 chapters approaching pollination from every angle. Professor Abrol has sought to cover all aspects of the subject, and has here provided a great synthesis and summary of many other publications, projects and research work.

ALSO NOW IN STORE

Hannah and the honey bees

by Alison Simms with illustrations by Terry Gable

An attractive and scientifically accurate introduction to beekeeping that may well inspire children to become beekeepers.

2011 76 pages £10.99 (€16.50) S111