Natural Beekeeping with Ross Conrad

Natural Beekeeping focuses on Vermont beekeeper Ross Conrad, who is an expert on keeping bees and their hives healthy through careful breeding and natural management. Scenes of Conrad in a workshop setting are interspersed with demonstrations in the field, as he covers everything from how the insects breed and communicate, to hive construction, fighting pests, harvesting honey, and winter nutrition and ventilation. Conrad, who wrote the 2007 book Natural Beekeeping, is an articulate and informative teacher who comes across as a bit of a bee whisperer: here, he stresses the importance of being calm around bees—displaying no sense of anxiety or fear—while also noting that it is too easy to be disrespectful of bees when covered in beekeeper gear, so he wears only ordinary clothing, making sure it is smooth and light-colored so as not to appear threatening. A fine instructional program that explores this niche topic in great depth, this would be a boon for both hobbyists and those considering taking up beekeeping as a small commercial venture. DVD extras include downloadable and printable instructions for making “bee tea,” a list of resources for beginners, and an outline of seasonal tasks. Highly recommended. [Note: also newly available is Top-Bar Beekeeping with Les Crowder and Heather Harrell.] Aud: P. (F. Gardner)