5 books worth reading if you love bees

The Bees in Your Backyard Cover

1. The Bees in Your Backyard

Native bee identification, behavior, and biology is such rich subject to explore! People love seeing colorful birds come to their backyards, but few people get as excited about bees—yet they are just as beautiful, diverse, and interesting. There are over 4,000 different bee species. In my own backyard, I’ve spotted over a dozen. I love getting lost in this guide from Joseph S. Wilson and Olivia Messinger Carril. It has over 900 color photos and easy-to-follow identification tips. 

Available on Amazon or at the Durham County Library

2. Climate: A New Story

This book was a gift from Basil, one of the partners at Leaf & Limb. I have long appreciated their business and its commitment to raising native trees and increasing biodiversity. 

Written by Charles Eisenstein, it is one of the most refreshing takes on climate change I have come across. He puts forth the idea that in order to heal the plant we must go beyond facts and figures. We need to fundamentally shift how people view and interact with nature and each other. It’s a deep, multi-faceted book that’s worth considering.

Side note: Leaf & Limb just launched a service that will help you convert your lawn into a wildflower prairie! They’re booked through 2024, so be sure to get on their list for 2025 if you’re interested. 

Available on Amazon

3. Wild Honey Bees: An Intimate Portrait

It’s easy to forget that there are still honey bees that live out in the forest. This book will transport you to Germany and take you into the magical world of wild honey bee nests. Ingo Arnt, one of the world’s leading nature photographers spent over 8 months intimately photographing wild colonies. He took more than 74,000 pictures and published the best ones in this book. They are breathtaking. Each one made me ask, “How in the world did he get this picture?” 

Available on Amazon

4. The Seed Garden: The Art and Practice of Seed Saving

What was once invasive grasses is finally starting to look like the pollinator haven I envisioned. It was a year of firsts. It was the first time I took soil samples to the NC Cooperative Extension. It was the first time I ordered a chip drop to smother my grass and build the soil healthy. And it was the first time I saved seeds! With beekeeping, we always strive to propagate the hives that proved to be resilient. Now I’m striving to do the same with my plants. This book from the Seed Savers Exchange has gotten me really excited about the practice of seeding saving. It’s a beautiful book to have on display, plus it’s wonderfully organized and written.

Available on Amazon or at the Durham County Library

5. Honey Bee Biology and Beekeeping

I picked this book up while studying for my journeyman beekeeping exam. It’s prefect for giant bee nerds. Warning: it is a textbook, so I wouldn’t recommend it as a beach read. But if you want to dive deep into honey bee anatomy, pheromone communication, dance languages, management practices, and more, this book is for you.

Available on directly from Wicwas Press

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