The popular host of BBC Breakfast recounts his many misadventures as a backyard beekeeper.

“A truly wonderful read.” —Diana Sammataro, coauthor of The Beekeeper’s Handbook

This guide for backyard beekeepers who have advanced into their second year with top bar hives picks up where The Thinking Beekeeper left off, providing a wealth of information for those ready to take the next step with this economical, bee-friendly approach.

The benefits of keeping bees are abundant: pollination in gardens, a fresh supply of honey, and the knowledge that you're supporting creatures fundamental to a healthy ecosystem. This guide will help make backyard beekeeping for beginners a breeze, with the tools and sound advice you need to plan your first colony, care for your bees, and enjoy the harvest.

A bee expert profiles female beekeepers, describing their work and how they manage it; the sense of community they enjoy; how beekeeping is relevant to questions about globalization and politics—and how it provides an opportunity for a new sustainable economy.