I like bees. That's not to say I don't occasionally get a bit nervous when I see one around (stings hurt, after all). But, all things considered, I'm still a fan -- and I'm hardly alone.
There's no denying humanity's fascination with bees. In ancient Greece, bees were considered liaisons of the gods. The ancient Egyptians kept hives afloat and collected nectar from up and down the Nile River. Beekeeping has been going on for millennia, as has the use of honey as a staple of the dinner table. We've built up urban legends around bees. And it just so happens that my favorite fictional detective is well-known by his fans to have eventually retired and taken up a new profession: beekeeping.
Bees have become of increasing interest to us all with reports of growing problems for hives across the nation -- and the world. So as we go into National Honey Month, what better time to learn more about Apis mellifera (the Western honey bee) and our other friendly neighborhood bees?
- Robbing the Bees: A Biography of Honey, the Sweet Liquid Gold That Seduced the World by Holley Bishop.
Bishop's book is not just a biography of honey, but a biography of bees. This book takes a close look at the role bees have paid in our culture and history, and the long obsession humans have had with honey -- our only sweetener for centuries.
- A Book of Bees: And How to Keep Them by Sue Hubbell
Bishop's book is not just a biography of honey, but a biography of bees. This book takes a close look at the role bees have paid in our culture and history, and the long obsession humans have had with honey -- our only sweetener for centuries.
It's part beekeeping handbook, part memoir. A beekeeper for fifteen years, the author keeps three hundred hives of bees scattered across farms in the Ozark Mountains of southern Missouri. (She pays local farmers a gallon of honey a year in "rent" for the property her hives are on.) Dividing the book up into the four seasons of beekeeping ("The Beekeeper's Autumn," "The Beekeeper's Winter"), Hubbell shares her beekeeping experiences in a storytelling style that is as interesting as it is engaging.
- The Beekeeper's Bible: Bees, Honey, Recipes and Other Home Uses
The ultimate bee handbook. This "bible" includes the history of the ancient art of beekeeping, a primer on how to embark on one's own beekeeping hobby, and ideas for the dozens of uses for honey and beeswax. Learn how to keep bees, make candles and skin care products, and try your hand at over 100 recipes featuring honey as a star ingredient. It's a perfect starting point for anyone looking to try their hand at beekeeping -- or just a great read for anyone interested in bees.
- The Beekeeper's Lament: How One Man and Half a Billion Honey Bees Help Feed America by Hannah Nordhaus
The ultimate bee handbook. This "bible" includes the history of the ancient art of beekeeping, a primer on how to embark on one's own beekeeping hobby, and ideas for the dozens of uses for honey and beeswax. Learn how to keep bees, make candles and skin care products, and try your hand at over 100 recipes featuring honey as a star ingredient. It's a perfect starting point for anyone looking to try their hand at beekeeping -- or just a great read for anyone interested in bees.
- The Beekeeper's Lament: How One Man and Half a Billion Honey Bees Help Feed America by Hannah Nordhaus
CCD, or Colony Collapse Disorder, has resulted in beekeepers checking their hives only to find the entire colony dead. Enter John Miller -- a commercial beekeeper who began a trek across the country to try and help heal the hives. Miller went on a mission to deliver hundreds of thousands of bees to affected beekeepers, helping to both restore their livelihood as well as to restore the natural pollinators that our farming industry needs to survive. Here's his story -- and the story of our nation's beekeeping industry.
- Tales from the Hive [DVD]
Broadcast as a segment on PBS's Nova, this documentary used unique camera lenses to capture what life is like inside the hive. The result is an in-depth look at the lives of bees and their colonies.
- Robotic Bees [Online video]
- Honeybee Collapse [MPL Hot Topic]
Our Hot Topics compile the top articles, op/eds, and reference materials about what's currently, well, buzzing in the media! One of our latest Topics focuses on the Honeybee Collapse, showcasing news articles, scientific resources, organization websites, and some suggested readings from our Collection, all providing more information on the epidemic bee disappearance.
RoboBees? One engineer at Harvard's Microrobotics Lab thinks that robotic bees may be the future. The eventual goal (they are projecting a decade-long refinement) is to have these robotic bees work together, much like a real colony. Future duties may include search-and-rescue and environmental monitoring, in addition to assisting in the pollination of crops.
One of Harvard's Microrobotics Lab's "RoboBees"
- Honeybee Collapse [MPL Hot Topic]
Our Hot Topics compile the top articles, op/eds, and reference materials about what's currently, well, buzzing in the media! One of our latest Topics focuses on the Honeybee Collapse, showcasing news articles, scientific resources, organization websites, and some suggested readings from our Collection, all providing more information on the epidemic bee disappearance.
- Behind the Bee’s Knees: The Origins of Nine Bee-Inspired Sayings [TIME article]
Nowadays, we say something is "the bee's knees" when it's stylish, noteworthy, or simply flat-out cool. But in the late 18th century, it was actually a derogatory term, referring to something that was weak or insignificant -- like the teeny joint in a bumblebee's leg. Look here to find out the stories behind some of our most-used bee metaphors.
- 20 Unusual Uses for Honey [Huffington Post article]
Lip balm. Moisturizer. Hors d'oeuvres. An energy boost. An antiseptic. Honey has more uses than just something to spread on toast. Check out some suggestions here!
-- Post by Ms. B
Nowadays, we say something is "the bee's knees" when it's stylish, noteworthy, or simply flat-out cool. But in the late 18th century, it was actually a derogatory term, referring to something that was weak or insignificant -- like the teeny joint in a bumblebee's leg. Look here to find out the stories behind some of our most-used bee metaphors.
- 20 Unusual Uses for Honey [Huffington Post article]
Lip balm. Moisturizer. Hors d'oeuvres. An energy boost. An antiseptic. Honey has more uses than just something to spread on toast. Check out some suggestions here!
- Wild for Bees [website]
This online resource from Burt's Bees includes an app to help you start your own "bee garden" (planting flowers that will attract pollinators), a "No Fear of Stings" brochure (with tips on how to "bee-watch" without anxiety), recipes for healthy meals made with honey and other bee-assisted ingredients, and a quirky video series in which actress Isabella Rossellini demonstrates the lives and duties of the average bee.
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