Interested in keeping bees in a way that's beneficial for both you and the bees? Experienced but dissatisfied with commercial beekeeping, chemical treatments, or the workload? Or perhaps you're an urban beekeeper unsure how to do it bee-friendly? If so, this is the guide you need. This book offers a fresh approach to hobby beekeeping, avoiding scaled-down commercial techniques and unproven 'natural' methods. Instead, it provides an integrated, science-based method tailored for small-scale backyard beekeepers. The book simplifies hive systems, uses swarm catching to replace lost colonies, and minimizes hive interventions, making beekeeping less labor-intensive, more affordable, and better aligned with bees' natural behavior. Written by experts in an engaging style, this book is richly illustrated and comes with a companion website to keep you updated. It's an invaluable reference for hobby beekeepers, guiding you throughout the beekeeping year.