Learn what all the buzz is about with this guide to the fascinating and sustainable hobby of keeping bees. Plus: honey recipes for food and skin care!

Beekeeping is about management, control and learning to understand the honeybee. It can also become a very enjoyable and sociable pastime—visiting others’ hives and picking up vital hints and tips is all part of the fun—and farming and eating honey that your own bees have produced is a pure delight.

Joanna Ryde covers all aspects of beekeeping, from the basic tools and equipment needed for setting up a hive to detailed advice on when to harvest honey and honey-inspired recipes, from delicious cakes to beauty products. This really is the definitive guide for anyone thinking of keeping bees.