How to Keep Bees
Arvin Pierce, who we have written about previously, has written a book about beekeeping. It’s titled, “About Bees & Keeping Honeybees Without Treatments: For folks who just want to keep bees”.
además has worked with Arvin for 13 years now, and it has been a joy to help him with his contributions to conservation and honeybee awareness.
Here is a brief bio from the book:
“Arvin Pierce, a seasoned beekeeper and retired truck driver, hails from a small Midwestern farm. He embarked on his beekeeping journey in 2003, eventually managing over 70 hives. Arvin's expertise extends to removing colonies from trees and buildings across central Illinois and educating various audience groups about honeybees. In 2017, he helped initiate a successful bee program at Blackburn College. Originally designed as a manual for his classes, Arvin's book, About Bees & Keeping Honeybees Without Treatments, reflects his 23 years of treatment-free beekeeping experience. Recognized as the Beekeeper of the Year in 2022, he previously served as a State of Illinois Apiary Inspector for seven years and is currently the Illinois State Apiary Advisor.”
This is a quote from the book that I believe expresses who Arvin is, and why we love working with him so much:
“Please do not take this as a how-to-do manual, but more of a how-it-can-be-done manual. The purpose here is to provide enough information about honeybees to help you think & work through your own cooperation with the bees you have in your hives at your location. Beekeeping can be an art, a personal expression of who you are, what you think, what you do, and how you do it.”
One of the main focuses of the book is encouraging chemical-free treatment of Varroa mite infestations in bee hives. Varroa mites arrived in the US in the late 80’s, and many beekeepers have taken to using chemicals to rid the hive of the parasites. But, Arvin believes in the bees’ ability to survive and adapt on their own:
“Why would you want to keep bees that you believe will need chemicals year after year when it is possible to keep bees without chemicals? What’s the advantage of using chemicals on bees in some hives that could very well survive without them? Am I one of those beekeepers who let my bees die? I choose to think I’m one of those beekeepers who let my bees survive.”
If you’re interested in keeping bees or even just curious, please consider purchasing Arvin’s book.
