Bee People and the Bugs They Love

by Frank Mortimer

Overview

Certified master beekeeper and president of the Northeast NJ Beekeepers Association, Frank Mortimer, chronicles the adventures and comedic misfortunes of beekeeping in a funny, noble odyssey into the fantastic, complex world of bees and their human custodians.


A fascinating foray into the obsessions, friendships, scientific curiosity, misfortunes and rewards of suburban beekeeping—through the eyes of a Master Beekeeper...

Who wants to keep bees? And why? For the answers, Master Beekeeper Frank Mortimer invites readers on an eye-opening journey into the secret world of bees, and the singular world of his fellow beekeepers. There's the Badger, who introduces Frank to beekeeping; Rusty, a one-eyed septuagenarian bee sting therapist certain that honey will be the currency of the future after the governments fail; Scooby the "dude" who gets a meditative high off the awesome vibes of his psychedelia-painted hives; and the Berserker, a honeybee hitman who teaches Frank a rafter-raising lesson in staving off the harmful influences of an evil queen: "Squash her, mash her, kill, kill, kill!"

Frank also crosses paths with those he calls the Surgeons (precise and protected), the Cowboys (improvisational and unguarded) and the Poseurs, ex-corporate cogs, YouTube-informed and ill-prepared for the stinging reality of their new lives. In connecting with this club of disparate but kindred spirits, Frank discovers the centuries-old history of the trade; the practicality of maintaining it; what bees see, think, and feel (emotionless but sometimes a little defensive); how they talk to each other and socialize; and what can be done to combat their biggest threats, both human (anti-apiarist extremists) and mite (the Varroa destructor).

With a swarm of offbeat characters and fascinating facts (did that bee just waggle or festoon?), Frank the Bee Man delivers an informative, funny, and galvanizing book about the symbiotic relationship between flower and bee, and bee and the beekeepers who are determined to protect the existence of one of the most beguiling and invaluable creatures on earth.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780806540832
Publisher:	Kensington
Publication date:	03/30/2021
Pages:	320
Sales rank:	1,113,076
Product dimensions:	5.70(w) x 8.40(h) x 1.40(d)

About the Author

Frank Mortimer is an adjunct instructor at the Cornell University Master Beekeeping Program, a certified master beekeeper, an instructor at The New York Botanical Garden, contributor to Bee Culture Magazine, and president of the Northeast NJ Beekeepers Association. He is a frequent speaker at events for audiences ranging from school children to gardening clubs and civic organizations and has led beekeeping seminars across New Jersey and at The New York Botanical Garden. Frank is married, has three children, and beekeeping is something the whole family enjoys doing together. Visit him online at BeePeopleTheBook.com.

Table of Contents

1 How I Started in Beekeeping 1

2 Bee Cops 20

3 Bee First 36

4 All Hail the Queen 49

5 Bee Club 67

6 One-Eyed Bee Guy 81

7 Smoke a Little Smoke 95

8 That Stings 109

9 Death and an Autopsy 124

10 Varroa the Destructor 139

11 Welcome to the World of Bee 154

12 Bees Bees Bees 172

13 Laying Workers and the Night Shift 188

14 To Have Is Not to Keep 203

15 Honey Honey 219

16 Bee Mistakes 238

17 In and Otters 257

18 Hiving the Bee Club 269

19 Bee Are Family 282

Glossary 297

Suggestions for Further Bee Reading 303

Beekeeping Resources and Websites 306

Acknowledgments 310

Editorial Reviews

…it is an achievement to convey so much knowledge so accessibly without once seeming overbearing…[Bee People and the Bugs They Love] is written in a stylistically assured voice and with a structure that makes it easy to follow. And Mortimer intersperses useful facts about his passion in a successful and funny book that is sure to swell the ranks of the world's beekeepers.

The New York Times Book Review - Anne Sverdrup-Thygeson

04/06/2020

Beekeeper Mortimer shares insights gleaned from years of pursuing his avocation in this illuminating debut memoir. He begins with his first hive, procured through a man known as “the Badger” at the local beekeeping club, and takes readers through his own trial by fire, in the hopes that aspiring beekeepers can avoid making the same mistakes. Mortimer lists the basic equipment needed to start, outlines the functions of a hive’s different members (drones, workers, and the queen), and describes maintenance practices, such as using smoke to keep the hive calm. Some of the most charming passages involve Mortimer’s friendships with other beekeepers, who are often as eccentric as they are kind and helpful. In addition to Badger, for instance, there’s Rusty Spoonauer, aka “the one-eyed bee guy,” a septuagenarian who advises the beekeeping club to “save your honey, ’cause when the governments fall and we’re all living in anarchy,” they can use their produce for barter (and use the remainder for mead, as “people always gonna need a stiff drink.”). New or prospective beekeepers will find a useful how-to guide as well as an affectionate ode to nature’s pollinators and honey makers, while any readers who have had their lives reshaped by a single overriding passion will enjoy learning how Mortimer found his. Agent: Barbara Collins Rosenberg, Rosenberg Group. (June)

Publishers Weekly

PRAISE FOR
BEE PEOPLE AND THE BUGS THEY LOVE

"It is an achievement to convey so much knowledge so accessibly without once seeming overbearing. The main reason it all works is the honest descriptions of friendships that spring up around a shared, all-absorbing interest in bees. The book is written in a stylistically assured voice and with a structure that makes it easy to follow. And Mortimer intersperses useful facts about his passion in a successful and funny book that is sure to swell the ranks of the world’s beekeepers."
—The New York Times

"Frank Mortimer's BEE PEOPLE AND THE BUGS THEY LOVE is the bee's knees and getting a ton of buzz. Bee smart, people, and read this un-BEE-lievably interesting look at the quirky world of beekeeping."
—Harlan Coben, #1 New York Times bestselling author
 
"If the world of beekeepers has a top ambassador, it’s Frank (The Beeman) Mortimer.  Bee People and the Bugs They Love is a delightful portrayal for non-beekeepers of what life is like for those of us who are always thinking about bees.
—Tom Seeley, author of The Lives of Bees
 
"Bee People is a fun and exciting tale of the wonder-filled world of beginner beekeeping. It’s a relatable story that every beekeeper can easily identify with, and filled with helpful tips for those thinking of getting started."
—Noah Wilson-Rich, author of Bee: A Natural History , and CEO and partner The Best Bees Company

"Bee People takes a long look at your first beekeeper’s meeting, that first bee sting, capturing your first swarm and tasting your first honey…My advice, read Mortimer’s book first, before you become a beekeeper. If you do, you will become a beekeeper. He gets it right. And Bee Nerd Alert: You will meet some of the best people in the world – beekeepers."
—Kim Flottum, author, The Backyard Beekeeper, and editor-in-chief of Bee Culture Magazine
 
"Bee People gently provides a synopsis not just of beekeeping, but the principals themselves. Dear reader, you know these people. They may have delightfully funnier names, but make no mistake, as you read, Mortimer has conjured the eccentric beekeepers from every corner of the world, including yours."
—Tammy Horn Potter, Author of Bees In America: How the Honey Bee Shaped a Nation

“Beekeeper Mortimer shares insights gleaned from years of pursuing his avocation in this illuminating debut memoir…Some of the most charming passages involve Mortimer’s friendships with other beekeepers, who are often as eccentric as they are kind and helpful…New or prospective beekeepers will find a useful how-to guide as well as an affectionate ode to nature’s pollinators and honey makers, while any readers who have had their lives reshaped by a single overriding passion will enjoy learning how Mortimer found his.” 
—Publishers Weekly
 
“Mortimer is a playful storyteller, and his text is lively with the challenges and appeal of keeping bees…Bee People is as much about beekeepers as it is about bees themselves, and those sketched include the Surgeon, who dons “full head-to-toe bee suits” and approaches his hives “the same way a surgeon walks into the operating room,” and the Cowboy, “who doesn’t wear any type of veil, usually has forgotten to bring his smoker, and just jumps in without any real plan.” Bee People is a compelling memoir that’s filled with information about beekeepers and the tiny, fascinating creatures to whom they tend.”
—ForeWord Reviews
 
“A fun read…Mortimer does an excellent job of weaving lessons, and facts, in with his stories…entertaining, well written, and will quickly have you happily lost in the world of bees. Even with all the mistakes and missteps that can happen with beekeeping (he mentions quite a few of them!), he paints an almost idyllic picture that will have a lot of readers giving the idea of trying beekeeping more consideration than they may have in the past.”
—Paleo Magazine

“Author Frank Mortimer, aka Frank the Bee Man, writes a very entertaining book about his venture into beekeeping.”
—American Bee Journal 
 
“This book includes great humor and a use of allegory that reveals tremendous background knowledge. Beginning as a simple recounting of initial inquiry, coupled with personal conflict, this evolves into in-depth learning, great analysis of personalities, and a revealing of information that is masked finely in narrative.”
—San Francisco Book Review 

“The author goes over a lot of things you won't have to learn the hard way, which is how a lot of beginners seem to learn.” 
—Bee Culture 

Mortimer’s enthusiasm bursts forth on every page, and his storytelling skills make this a practical handbook for novice beekeepers and a delightful read even for those who can’t imagine ever managing a buzzing hive.
—Booklist Starred Review

From the Publisher

Author Frank Mortimer is self-deprecating about learning to be a competent beekeeper and laugh-out-loud funny as he describes the colorful personalities and pretenders who are part of that world. Michael Butler Murray’s sardonic delivery is absolutely perfect. He keeps the pace buzzing along. Mortimer shares his bee knowledge, explaining the role of the queen, drones, and workers; how a smoker calms the bees; why a bee will die when it stings but a wasp keeps on stinging. Mistakes are measured in bee stings, and the barbs are frequent. Some people just like to have bees—painting the hives to match the yard is their priority—and Murray expertly renders the author’s wry disdain. There is sweetness here, too, as Mortimer shares his hobby with his son and falls in love with the woman who becomes his wife. A.B. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine

JUNE 2021 - AudioFile