I think that sometimes there are those who want to have their cake and eat it - those who profess you can learn it from a book / the internet and others (often more experienced but not necessarily the wiser) who constantly say you cannot learn beekeeping from a book and the bees don't read books anyway. Beginners Courses are good, beginners course are rubbish. No wonder many aspiring beekeepers are confused and put off. The ideal situation is that the beginner finds a mentor through their association (we do try to pair people). That experienced beekeeper living in lovely chocolate box thatched cottage with roses round the door who patiently teaches their beginner all their wisdom acquired over decades of beekeeping .... Sadly there aren't many of those about and when we asked our 400+ members who was willing to mentor - only a few hardy souls came forward.
I don't think the BBKA book is much good, the beekeepers who wrote it may know their stuff but the content is a mess with topics dealt with all over the book in random order. They clearly weren't technical authors. Fortunately the Haynes team are and tied with two experienced beekeepers it was obvious which book to choose as a textbook for the beginner.
Aware that this is not just any old forum but the BBKA Forum, I am always conscious of a responsibility towards aspiring beekeepers who come to it seeking guidance. The BBKA tries to encourage a common content in courses and at least it gives a firm foundation to fall back on when things happen and you find yourself on your own. Of course you will gain experience and decide on your own style as you gain knowledge.
I read an Inquiry recently into an accident involving a well known acrobatic flying team - the creme de la creme. It delved deep into not only the accident but everything related to it including the most minute scrutiny of procedures. Seems that they had lost track of the basics in the belief that they were who they were and thus exceptions to the rule. There's a lesson there for some beekeepers, too busy doing the advanced stuff that they forget that the person setting out needs the basics first and take it from there.
I don't think the BBKA book is much good, the beekeepers who wrote it may know their stuff but the content is a mess with topics dealt with all over the book in random order. They clearly weren't technical authors. Fortunately the Haynes team are and tied with two experienced beekeepers it was obvious which book to choose as a textbook for the beginner.
Aware that this is not just any old forum but the BBKA Forum, I am always conscious of a responsibility towards aspiring beekeepers who come to it seeking guidance. The BBKA tries to encourage a common content in courses and at least it gives a firm foundation to fall back on when things happen and you find yourself on your own. Of course you will gain experience and decide on your own style as you gain knowledge.
I read an Inquiry recently into an accident involving a well known acrobatic flying team - the creme de la creme. It delved deep into not only the accident but everything related to it including the most minute scrutiny of procedures. Seems that they had lost track of the basics in the belief that they were who they were and thus exceptions to the rule. There's a lesson there for some beekeepers, too busy doing the advanced stuff that they forget that the person setting out needs the basics first and take it from there.