Table Of ContentHoneybee
Lessons from an Accidental Beekeeper
Honeybee
Lessons from an Accidental Beekeeper
C. MARINA MARCHESE
Illustrations by Elara Tanguy
Copyright © 2009 by C. Marina Marchese
All rights reserved. No part of this book, either text or illustration, may be used or
reproduced in any form without prior written permission from the publisher.
Published by
Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers, Inc.
151 West 19th Street
New York, NY 10011
Distributed by
Workman Publishing Company
225 Varick Street
New York, NY 10014
Manufactured in the United States of America
Cover and interior design by Susi Oberhelman
All illustrations © Elara Tanguy, except for pages 5 and 32,
which are drawn by the author.
Cover art from Grand Herbier by Pedanius Dioscorides,
Getty/Bridgeman Art Library ISBN-13: 978-1-57912-815-9
h g f e d c b a
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data available upon request.
The publisher disclaims any responsibility for any loss, injury or damages caused as
a result of the implementation of any technique, method or advice discussed in this book.
for my honey v-bee
Contents
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
INTRODUCTION: My Sweet Encounter with the Honeybee
CHAPTER 1: My Life as a Worker Bee
CHAPTER 2: Becoming a Beekeeper
CHAPTER 3: Apiology: The Study of Bees
CHAPTER 4: Foundations in Beekeeping
CHAPTER 5: My Queen and Her Subjects Arrive
CHAPTER 6: First Observations as a New Beekeeper
CHAPTER 7: Beekeeping and Honey Throughout History
CHAPTER 8: From Hive to Home: Making and Harvesting Honey
CHAPTER 9: A Master Class in Beekeeping
CHAPTER 10: Honeybees in Autumn: Preparing for Winter
CHAPTER 11: Apitherapy: How the Honeybee Heals
CHAPTER 12: All About Honey
CHAPTER 13: Honey Sommelier: The Tasting of Honey
APPENDIX 1: Deciphering a Honey Label
APPENDIX 2: 75 Varietals of Honey
GLOSSARY
BIBLIOGRAPHY
RESOURCES
Acknowledgments
Gratitude, praise, and recognition to the following people I have been lucky
to learn from and work with on this personal journey:
My agent, Coleen O’Shea, and her business partner, Marilyn Allen, both of
whom were bee-lievers in this project from the beginning. I am indebted to
author Claire Garcia, for her enthusiasm and generous introductions, and to
Connie Pappas, for sparking my motivation.
Becky Koh, editor extraordinaire, who fearlessly accompanied me into the
hive and also extracted 20 pounds of sticky honey. Her brilliant guidance,
editing, and vision shaped my concept into perfection. Thank you!
J.P. Leventhal, who embraced my passion for the honeybee, and everyone
at Black Dog & Leventhal who contributed to making this project a
success, including Liz Hartman, director of marketing and publicity; Judy
Courtade, sales director; and True Sims, production manager. As well as
Susi Oberhelman, for her lovely book design, and Elara Tanguy, for her
charming illustrations.
Howland Blackiston, who introduced me to the magical world of
honeybees. Your mentoring and creative spirit were the inspiration for this
work. Grazie mille!
The community of amazing beekeepers I have met on my journeys at home
and around the world, who have opened up their own hives and graciously
shared their honeybee wisdom. The Back Yard Beekeepers Association
and its members, for allowing me into their hive and enriching my journey.
The Apitherapy Society, for introducing me to how the honeybee heals.
Kim Flottum at Bee Culture magazine, who gave me the confidence to
write. Master beekeeper, Ann Harmon, and Alan Lorenzo, bee venom
therapist, who read and advised. Honey judges Robert Brewer and Michael
Young, both of whom inspired my reverence for honey. Bill and Royal
Draper, for answering all my bee questions. Giovanni and Francesco at
Bottega della Api, Siete molto gentili. Joe at Puglia Wine Imports.
Vic, who patiently read, forfeited vacations, and put up with my deadlines,
yet has not swarmed and continues to keep honeybees. My sister Nicole,
for reading. My sister Andrea, for bottling honey. Mom, for her honey
recipes, and Dad, who is now a true honey lover. Sarah, my tall, clear glass
of water. And, Brave! to all the worker bees at Red Bee Honey who kept
the hive buzzing so I could write.
Special beekeepers, chefs, and loyal honey lovers who gave their generous
support along the way. Thank you, Nick, Taylor, and Amy at Murray’s
Cheese; Erin at Artisanal Premium Cheese Center; Julian and Lisa
Niccolini at The Four Seasons; and Marty Vaz at Speak Easy Cocktails.
INTRODUCTION:
My Sweet Encounter with the Honeybee
Although I’ve been a beekeeper for a long time, I will never forget my very
first taste of fresh honey straight out of the beehive. Almost ten years ago a
neighbor, Mr. B, invited me to his apiary to meet his honeybees. I was
apprehensive about the offer. I thought to myself, “Sure, I like honey, but
I’m not so sure I like honeybees.” Suddenly I imagined myself surrounded
by a swarm of hundreds of buzzing bees. The idea scared me, as I think it
would most people. But I was ready for a new adventure, so I accepted Mr.
B’s invitation.
It was a perfect early spring day when I showed up at Mr. B’s home to
meet his honeybees. In his backyard stood three tall boxes that looked like
painted white file cabinets; these were his beehives. As Mr. B greeted me,
he handed me a beekeeper’s veil to put over my head for protection. Then
he donned his own veil and walked toward the hives. As I followed him,
heart pounding in my ears, he explained that honeybees, although quite
docile, were also curious creatures. They liked to crawl into nooks and
crannies and into our clothing. The veils should stop them from stinging
our faces. “Stinging our faces?” I wondered what I was getting myself into.
By the time we arrived at the hives, I was trembling. Mr. B lit his bee
smoker, a small tin container that looked a little like a coffee can, and blew
a few puffs of smoke into the front entrance of the first beehive. Then he
lifted the cover to direct the smoke at the bees inside. He explained that the
smoke calmed the bees and distracted them from our presence.
He then gently removed the cover completely from the hive and placed
it on the grass. I craned my neck to peer inside, still trying not to get too
close. Hundreds, maybe thousands, of honeybees crawled across the top of
the ten perfectly positioned wooden frames that sat vertically inside the
box. I was utterly surprised and relieved to see that the bees were indeed
quite calm. With his bare hands, Mr. B. slowly removed a single wooden
frame covered with bees. I watched with amazement as the bees walked
across his fingers, then his hands, and onto his sleeve. But Mr. B took no
notice. “These are Italian honeybees,” he said. I had to smile. Since I am of
Italian ancestry, I liked the idea of Italian honeybees. Out of nowhere came
thoughts of telling my friends, “I raise Italian honeybees.”
Mr. B inspected the frame and pointed out the different kinds of bees:
