Beekeeping With Twenty-five Hives: From Passion to Profits Paperback – March 8, 2013

This book felt more like spending time with an older mentor who is likeable and has a good, down to earth, sense of humor. If you are looking for a 'how to grow your bee business textbook' like I was, his style might initially rub you off as being repetitive and circuitous, but his subtitle, 'My Philosophical Journey From Passion to Profits' should tell you this is not a bullet list of 'how to's'. If you hang in there, you will find great wisdom and insights. My favorite chapters were chpt 9 on 'Nucs, packages, swarms and splits' and 10 'Re-queening and raising your own queens'. I'll definitely keep this one close and re-read it again!

OMG, this guy needs an editor. He is a minister and educator and is overly verbose. He drives his point home like a teacher telling you everything seven times, then in the next chapter repeats a few of the salient points again and again. It’s not that he doesn’t have some valuable points and sound advice. Repetition has a place, but not in a book for intermediate level subject experts. I gave twice on this book and finally when I had time I finished it on vacation. The book gets more to the point halfway through, when he has quick point to make. He has lots of books, and I hope they don’t all require the patience of Solomon. Or perhaps, it is just jealousy that when I write in this way people don’t appreciate it. He has fun and it is like a discussion with and old man who meander a bit. I will finish it this winter, but I’m from the business and engineering world, and a few check lists and succinct summaries would cove much of his content. I do like the old beekeeper and folksy voice he has written this book in, but he needs an editor and drop 1/3 of the repetition. If I missed a point, I’ll go back an re-read it. I wish you wisdoms was more succinct. I’m just a New England city dweller wishing for the wilds of Maine, and I should have more patience for a Missouri minister, so part of the failure is mine. (I raised it from 3 to 4 stars ‘cause he starts cooking with gas over halfway through)

Very good in-depth advice. An easy read with valuable information. Like having a mentor in a book! Really opens your eyes on what to expect if your expanding your yards.

Reading this book is like listening to an old man talk and ramble your ear off at your local bee club (which is a real part of being a new beekeeper). Yes it’s not expertly and concisely written, it’s rambling and long winded, at times going off on random tangents to explain a very basic subject. But he is passionate about his bees and there are a few gems that make this book worth reading. However, at the time of writing this book (2012) he is still working another job to fund his beekeeping. So he is not making a profit from his passion, as the title suggests. So, if profit is your main interest in this book, Grant Gillard might not be the best authority on making money with your bees. But he has a lot of knowledge and compassion and is someone I would enjoy talking to in person.

This is a excellent book. Well written and easy to understand. Everything is step by step with so many of my questions answered. This is going to save me a lot of time managing my bees. Especially helpful is his ideas on record keeping and marketing my honey

I'm getting ready to jump up to 20 hives. This book was what I needed to hear. Mr. Gillard asks you to dig deep and examine yourself, your goals, and your excuses. It's good info with plenty of encouragement to plan and do things right. Follow your dreams, work hard, have fun, and see where they take you!

I've read a few of Grant Gilliard's books and this is the best one so far. I'm a small beekeeper with 3 hives but looking forward to expanding to 25 and possibly beyond. This is a good book for those who are similarly inclined. As the author explains, there is a big difference between having 4-5 hives and working 25 or more. There are chapters covering all aspects of the bee business and the challenges that come up when beekeeping at a greater scale. Everything from managing the hives, growing, swarms, management of bees, management of time as well as record keeping and marketing. However, it is NOT a step-by-step guide. You're going to have to go elsewhere and dig deeper for more specifics. That doesn't detract from the informational nature of the book as a starting point for those considering going large. The writing style is informal and conversational which I found made it easier to read, but this is NOT going to be a reference book that I'll go back to when I have questions. It's as much about passion as it is about profit and Gilliard goes to great lengths to cheer you on and offer guidance. Gilliard is an ordained minister, and anyone who slogged through L.L. Langstroth's "The Hive and the Honeybee" will recognize a certain hyperbolic quality to writing that seems to be ever-present when ministers put pen to paper. Or fingers to keyboard, nowadays. I would recommend this book to any beekeeper starting out, growing and contemplating going big and making it some sort of business beyond a simple hobby as he addresses things hobbyist might never consider like time management, liability and relations with neighbors and spouses. I got as much inspiration as I did ideas and information which was ideal from where I presently am in my beekeeping.

Full of a lot of food for thought. ..a good read from the voice of experience. ..several BTDT examples I found very useful...good for the hobby beekeeper thinking of getting bigger.

Great book. I highly recommend it.

As an amateur beekeeper i had hoped to tips on expanding into a part time professional set up. Hardly. There's not much on bees and a lot of 'frame of mind' stuff. If I were a librarian I'd move it from the Beekeeping section to the Business (Motivational) section. Disappointing for beekeepers, reasonable for its motivational content.

Excellent book, really made me step back and think about my apiary management. Well worth buying.

I enjoyed reading it but there is a need for better editing. He also repeats a lot. I did glean some informative material, but what was said could have been said in about a third of the pages. He adds a bit of humor which makes it a better read.

The book was really common sense in most topics relating to beekeeping but had no real valued information for me regarding keeping 25 hives.