An illustrated introduction to the estimated 2000 species of Australian bees.
Bees are often thought of as yellow and black striped insects that live in hives and produce honey. However, Australia’s abundant native bees are incredibly diverse in their appearance and habits. Some are yellow and black but others have blue stripes, are iridescent green or wasp-like. Some are social but most are solitary. Some do build nests with wax but others use silk or plant material, burrow in soil or use holes in wood and even gumnuts!
A Guide to Native Bees of Australia provides a detailed introduction ... View More...
Few insects are more important than bees, wasps, and ants. They maintain the garden's biological balance, fertilize vegetables, fruits, and flowers, and recycle nutrients within the soil. It's no exaggeration to say that a garden can't be understood without an understanding of its insects. "Bees, Wasps, and Ants" explores the importance of the Hymenoptera and explains how gardeners can encourage (or discourage) them in the garden. Part One includes a summary of their biology and a tour of what role they play in each part of the garden. Part Two takes a closer look at the individual groups wit... View More...
NOT IN STOCK - THIS IS A PRINT ON DEMAND TITLE WHICH TAKES 7-10 DAYS TO RECEIVE INTO STOCK - PLEASE TAKE THIS TIMEFRAME INTO ACCOUNT WHEN ORDERING. This definitive work by world-renowned bee authority Eva Crane offers a fascinating account of bees and their complex relations with both humans and animals. Comprehensive, absorbing, and lavishly illustrated, this scholarly, yet accessible volume explores how bees, honey and other bee products have been gathered and utilized throughout the world. Beginning with the rock paintings of the Mesolithic cave dwellers, readers will learn about the ... View More...
More eggs, less work! And more enjoyment for both the chickens and their keeper! That's the promise of Frank Hyman's Hentopia. From the Vending Machine Feeder to the Refilling Rainwaterer, Hyman's innovative building projects are designed to save time and money, while keeping chickens safe, healthy, clean, and well-fed. All 21 of the projects for the chicken yard feature easy-to-follow instructions and colourful photos, including creative doorways, nest boxes, fencing, roosts, as well as a predator-proof pen and "Chunnel" chicken run. With a lively, humorous voice, Hyman generously shares his ... View More...
With 372,000 copies in print, this is the most trusted and comprehensive reference on every aspect of chicken care, housing, feeding, and health care. The full-color new edition features the most current practices and a fresh new design. Serious poultry farmers and backyard bird raisers have relied on this best-selling reference for more than 20 years. The fourth edition of Gail Damerow's comprehensive handbook is now completely revised and redesigned, making it more accessible and informative than ever. You'll get the most up-to-date details on shelter, food, health care, eggs, chicks, and me... View More...
From hatching chicks to putting eggs on the table, this comprehensive guide has all the information you need to successfully keep chickens. Gail Damerow shows you how to choose the right breeds for your needs, build efficient chicken coops, provide necessary medical attention for your animals, and much more. Whether you're raising broilers for meat or preparing your chickens to win a blue ribbon at the next county fair, Storey's Guide to Raising Chickens will help you achieve your poultry-raising goals. View More...
Whether you're running a farm or interested in keeping a few backyard birds, Storey's Guide to Raising Poultry covers everything you need to know to successfully raise your own chickens, turkeys, waterfowl, and more. Stressing humane practices throughout, Glenn Davis provides expert advice on breed selection, housing, feeding, behaviour, breeding, health care, and processing your own meat and eggs. With tips on raising specialty species like doves, ostriches, and peafowl, you'll be inspired to experiment with new breeds and add diversity to your poultry operation. 464 pages. View More...
Whether you're raising one cow or a herd, this comprehensive guide shows you everything you need to know to successfully manage your beef cattle operation. Heather Smith Thomas stresses the importance of understanding bovine behaviour while covering breed selection, calving, feeding, housing, medical care, and humane slaughter practices. Along with in-depth information on raising grass-fed animals and dealing with toxic pasture plants, you'll also find advice on creating a viable business plan and identifying niche markets for your beef. View More...
Hydroponics as a hobby can provide enjoyment, stress relief, and the gratification of creating your own fresh, pesticide-free garden. The increased interest in hobby hydroponics over the last 30 years has created market demand and, therefore, widespread availability of small-scale hydroponic units. Hobby Hydroponics, Second Edition is a guide to all aspects of home hydroponic culture and systems, providing the most up-to-date information on hobby hydroponic growing, including the numerous advancements in concepts, technology, and products since the first edition. The book presents an overview ... View More...
Excerpt from The Illustrated Australasian Bee Manual: And Complete Guide to Modern Bee Culture in the Southern Hemisphere So rapid is the present progress of commercial beekeeping, necessarily accompanied by frequent changes and modifications in apiary appliances and methods of management, that much of the practical instructions embodied in technical works on bee-culture published from time to time, soon become antiquated, and out of date. I realised this in the present case when commencing to revise the text matter of the last - in preparation for the new - Edition, and therefore I decided to... View More...
Deals with chickens. This title features many mouth-watering chicken-and-egg recipes. It includes sections on poultry keeping and management that are illustrated with almost 100 full-colour photographs. Use this book, and you will love chickens too: love to keep them, scratching about in your own backyard; love to eat them, prepared from one of Jackie's many mouth-watering chicken-and-egg recipes. This completely revised edition's sections on poultry keeping and management have been greatly expanded, and are now illustrated with almost 100 full-colour photographs. It is bigger, better and alwa... View More...
Discover the beauty and diversity of Australia's native bees. Bees are the darlings of the insect world. It is a great joy to see these tenacious insects hard at work, peacefully buzzing from flower to flower on warm and sunny days. Many people recognise the worth of bees, as well as that they face many threats. But very few know about the diversity and importance of our native bee species. There are an estimated 2000 to 3000 bee species in Australia, yet we know very little about the vast majority of these and there are many that are yet to be described. Bees of Australia introduces some of... View More...
Whether you need a fence to protect your garden, keep animals or children safe, or add privacy, Jeff Beneke explains exactly what you need to know to build it yourself - even if you've never built anything before. He gives clear, simple, step-by-step instructions for several basic fence styles using a variety of materials, including wood, vinyl, and chain link. And once you've mastered the basics, you'll be skilled enough to build any kind of fence, even those not covered in the book. View More...
If you who want to raise chickens but don't know where to begin, Chick Days offers a warm and spirited introduction to these quirky backyard birds. Jenna Woginrich chronicles the life journey of three chickens (Amelia, Honey, and Tilda) from fluffy, newly hatched bundles to grown hens laying eggs of their own. As you watch these chickens grow, you'll learn everything you need to know about chicken behaviour, feeding, housing, and health care. This playfully informative guide will inspire you to confidently raise your own feathered flock. View More...
A great choice for the small or backyard farmer, dairy goats require a smaller investment than cows and produce milk that makes delicious yogurt and cheese. This comprehensive guide covers everything from selecting an appropriate breed to marketing your own products, while providing expert information on milking, grooming, housing, feeding, routine medical care, making cheese, and more. You'll have everything you need to you need to know to successfully raise your own dairy goats. View More...
From farming to road transportation, cultivation to furniture removal, tractors and trucks perform a huge variety of tasks. Tractors are an essential farming tool, having taken over the role formerly performed by oxen, horses, camels and elephants - that of pulling farm implements. Trucks are road vehicles used for carrying heavy loads, from supermarket food, logs, cement or fuel to everyday refuse. This magnificent encyclopedia is divided into two parts, one following the development of the tractor and the other focussing on the origins and functions of different kinds of trucks. The encyc... View More...
In today s artisan, hands-on, and environmentally conscience landscape, there are many reasons to mill your own lumber: a craftsman, artist, or builder can gain access to a new species and unique cuts of wood; there s the Yankee in all of us that hates to see a healthy log simply go off to the landfill when it can offer new flooring or a piece of furniture; and, finally, there s symmetry in building something for a grandchild from the branch that held his daddy s tire-swing. And, let s not forget that wood is expensive; on top of all the other great reasons, harvesting your own timber will sav... View More...
Australian Stingless Bees: a guide to Sugarbag beekeeping by John Klumpp is a 120 page book packed with over 200 photos and illustrations. It is easy to read, whimsical, engaging, sometimes amusing, and is crammed with useful information. The topics covered are: catching the bug - John's personal perspective; the different species of native social stingless bees; differences in lifestyle between honey bees and native social stingless bees (particularly Tetragonula carbonaria formerly Trigona carbonaria; life and lifecycle in a colony; castes; locating colonies in bushland; some different ... View More...
Learn how to successfully raise your own pigs. Providing all the information a small-scale pig farmer needs, this comprehensive guide covers breed selection, housing, humane handling, butchering, disease management, and more. Stressing the importance of sustainable and environmentally friendly farming practices, Kelly Klober provides expert tips on making your hog operation more efficient and profitable. Storey's Guide to Raising Pigs will give beginners the confidence they need to succeed, while inspiring experienced farmers to try new techniques and experiment with new breeds. View More...
As one of the most ancient of human beverages, mead arose in part because it was easy to make. Today' hobbyists rediscover the simplicity of making mead while revelling in the range of flavours that can result. In this book, veteran beverage hobbyist Ken Schramm introduces the novice to the wonders of mead. With easy-to-follow procedures and simple recipes, he shows how you can quickly and painlessly make your own mead at home. In later chapters, he introduces flavourful variations on the basic theme that lead to meads flavoured with spice, fruits, grapes and even malt. View More...