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This site is about sustainable, chemical-free, small-scale, 'organic' or 'natural' beekeeping, using simple equipment that almost anyone can make at home. If you have not yet heard of 'top bar hives', then this is a place to learn about them. You will find plenty of reading material here, together with a friendly and informative beekeeping forum, with opportunities to learn from experienced beekeepers. Be sure to join our free beekeeping forum to share low-impact beekeeping information from around the world. Natural beekeeping
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The Barefoot BeekeeperThe Barefoot Beekeeper is a revolutionary book about 'sustainable', chemical-free beekeeping, showing how it can be simplified and made accessible to all, including people with disabilities, as with this method there is no heavy lifting involved. The author strips away all unnecessary complication and confusion, demonstrating that 'modern' beekeeping methods are largely to blame for the poor state of health of the honeybee and that the commercialization of beekeeping marked the start of the disease and parasite problems that honeybees have been trying to deal with ever since. The author advocates small-scale, sustainable beekeeping, with minimal disturbance to the bees and more time spent observing and learning from them. This book shows how you can make everything you need to keep bees yourself, using recycled materials and simple tools: you do not need to buy any additional equipment at all, nor do you need synthetic medications or other chemicals. The second edition contains 17 more pages of information, including a new section on the vertical top bar hive. This is the companion volume to 'How To Build a Top Bar Hive', which is available as a free, downloadable supplement to The Barefoot Beekeeper. Some recent comments about The Barefoot Beekeeper: "The Barefoot Beekeeper is the best book out there as far as I'm concerned for those interested in pursuing sustainable beekeeping." Marty Hardison, USA "I had been a traditional type beekeeper since the mide 1980's and had been looking around for another way to keep bees as I felt that the ways we were keeping them was neither good for the bees nor the beekeeper. After reading The Barefoot Beekeeper I knew immediately I had found what I had been thinking about and searching for for years. It inspired me to immediately build several Top Bar hives and change my manner of keeping bees. ... read as much as you can about bees and beekeeping but do buy this one and follow it's suggested path." N, Spain "I have been using and promoting topbar hives for 30 years now. The shape of the topbar hive that I use is a little different ...but I am in full accord with the principles that he outlines. There are a lot of options out there... The Barefoot Beekeeper is the best book out there as far as I'm concerned for those interested in pursuing sustainable beekeeping." MH, USA "Inspired by this thread, I bought and read the book yesterday. It's a very helpful primer on the main issues and a VERY inspiring discussion of sustainable beekeeping. Some good history and background, as well." "I also think as an argument for sustainable beekeeping, the writing is unparalleled." G, UK You can download and read the introduction to The Barefoot Beekeeper for free: Introduction to The Barefoot Beekeeper by P J Chandler (free PDF) SECOND EDITION (2008) NOW AVAILABLE
 Buy the printed book or the downloadable PDF from Lulu.com using PayPal or any major credit card.
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