Ross Conrad brings together the best organic and natural approaches to keeping honeybees healthy and productive. Readers will learn about non-toxic methods of controlling mites, breeding strategies, and many other tips and techniques for maintaining healthy hives. Specific concepts and detailed management techniques are covered in a matter-of-fact, easy to-implement way. The various chemicals used in beekeeping have, for the past decades, held Varroa Destructor, a mite, and other major pests at bay. However, chemical resistance is building and evolution threatens to overtake the best that laboratory chemists have to offer. In fact, there is evidence that chemical treatments are making the problem worse. "Natural Beekeeping" flips the script on traditional approaches by proposing a program of selective breeding and natural hive management. "Natural Beekeeping" describes opportunities for the seasoned professional to modify existing operations, increase profits, and eliminate the use of chemical treatments. Beginners will need no other book to guide them. Whether you are an experienced apiculturist looking for ideas to develop an integrated pest management approach or someone who wants to sell honey at a premium price, this is the book you've been waiting for.

About the Author

Ross Conrad learned his craft from the late Charles Mraz, world-renowned beekeeper and founder of Champlain Valley Apiaries in Vermont. Former president of the Vermont Beekeepers Association, Conrad has written numerous articles on organic farming, natural healing, and health issues.