Send your friend to a public library. A good book is
"The Hive and the Honeybee" published by Dadant & Sons.
You can get their address from the book and write for a
catalog of their equipment. They also publish the "American
Bee Journal" magazine. The county Agriculture Cooperative
agent should know if there is a local beekeeping organization
and of an agriculture college in the state which would offer short
courses. I know that there is a bee program near you at
Doylstown college and they offer short courses. The University
of Guelph (sp) in Ontario Canada offers a set of videos and
correspondance courses. There is also the Eastern Apiculture
Society (EAS) which is a regional organization for Northeastern
United States which meets once a year in August. I'm not sure
of this year's meeting location but the Pensylvania State Beekeepers
are represented. So in summary:
read everything you can get your hands on...
join all the associations you have the time to attend in your area...
take all the short courses you can afford...
talk to all of the experienced people you can...
and then remember that the bees
don't read the same books...
don't attend the same meetings...
don't take the same courses...
don't acknowledge any experts..
and that almost all of the bees are females
and thus reserve the right to change their minds
so keep your eyes open
and make your own observations!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ Raymond J. Lackey +
+ Beekeeper 10 years with 25 colonies on Long Island +
+ INTERNET: [log in to unmask] +
+ Mail: 1260 Walnut Avenue, Bohemia NY 11617 +
+ Home Phone: 516-567-1936 FAX: 516-262-8053 +
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