Beekeeper Writes Book About Honeybees: Buzzzzzzzz What Honeybees Do

Posted on June 12, 2016 by Virginia Wright

I’ve been asked more than once what makes me an authority on honeybees or the subject thereof? I have also been asked what makes me think I can write a book about honeybees? What are my qualifications? Well, I will start with telling you I am not an entomologist. But for those of you who don’t know the answer, I will brief you… before and while writing Buzzzzzzzz What Honeybees Do, we had many beehives in an apiary in Ohio where I lived on a 25-acre farm. Later in life, and when we lived in Maine for about four years, we had as few as one to two hives. I have been a natural beekeeper and photographer of the little buzzers for years– and am currently, an advocate, of our greatest pollinator and encourage beekeeping. Yes, Buzzzzzzzz What Honeybees Do, a nonfiction, was written by a beekeeper, me. The cover photo of Buzzzzzzz was also taken by an amateur photographer, beekeeper, and writer, me. I’m not proposing to be an authority or know everything about honeybees– but having been a beekeeper and photographer of honeybees for several years certainly gives me a qualifying factor for writing a book about honeybees, so that is what I did.

With that mystery behind us… you will see in the photo below and left, a swarm of honeybees that are about to get a new home. It was such an exciting day and always rewarding to get a swarm of honeybees in the wild. Behind
the veil and white jumpsuit, you will find (me) getting ready to help capture this swarm of honeybees. :-) I’d much prefer to be behind the camera taking photographs of honeybees, but this day, I was asked to help get the swarm into their new home (beehive).

If you would like to check out more of my nature photography visit my Instagram gallery.

To buy my books click here.

Radio Interview with Virginia Wright talking about Buzzzzzzzz What Honeybees Do, with Media Show Host, Don McCauley ( Don McCauley serves as host of a number of The Authors Show radio programs, a production created and produced by eBroadcastMedia.com).

https://virginiawright.com/blog/2010/12/author-interview-2/

-Virginia

http://www.amazon.com/author/virginiawright

In this photo, a honeybee swarm was arriving seeking a new home. I stood amongst the honeybees shooting photos without any protective gear.

Swarm arriving…

Processing Honey, the Crush and Strain Method + Honey Butter Recipes

Posted on July 13, 2014 by Virginia Wright

Honeycomb

This is the first summer (because conditions were just right) in about three years, that we were able to take the honey off of our beehives. Excited! Look at the honeycomb–light golden, summer honey, oozing out of the cells!

Crush and Strain Honey

We use the crush and strain method to process our honey; in the bucket is honeycomb/honey being strained in a special straining bag, inside of a food-grade bucket.

Look at the honey line on the bucket, just after 1/2 hour of straining.

Look at my third photo, in only 1/2 hour, that much honey was already coming through the strainer (about 2 gallons).

We will let this sit overnight draining through the strainer, and we will open the spigot on the bucket in the morning, and begin filling canning jars with honey. Yum!

Bottling Honey

Bottling Honey is my favorite part of taking honey off the beehive, next to eating it!

Final process…bottled honey!

Summary: This is a delicious, quick, and easy honey butter recipe with a dash of spice.

Spicy Honey Butter Recipe

Summary: This is a simple recipe that you can make with your kids.

Honey Butter Recipe 2

Honey has antibacterial properties in it…click to read more!

Buzzzzzzzz What Honeybees Do by Virginia Wright

Visit Amazon.com to buy my book Buzzzzzzz: What Honeybees Do.” It is an educational, beekeeping book about honeybees, with real photographs. This book is not just a book children will learn from–teachers, parents, and grandparents, turning the pages of Buzzzzzzzz, will get a little bit of education about honeybees and what they do, too.

Do all honeybees sting?
What do they do with pollen?
How do they make honey?
What is pollination?
Does all honey look and taste alike?
What can we do to benefit the bees?
What kind of flowers do honeybees prefer?

With over 2,000 words packed in this small 26-page book, Buzzzzzzzz What Honeybees Do, can be used in conjunction with other school curriculum in the classroom to teach children about honeybees. Real photographs of the honeybees, comb, hives, flowers, and even one of a bee’s tongue!

~Virginia Wright

Amazon Reviews:

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful

Informative Book about Honeybees

By Sherry Ellis VINE VOICE on May 24, 2010

Format: Paperback Verified Purchase

If you want to know all about bees, honey, and hives, this is a book you will want to read. It is written for children ags 8-12, but even adults would enjoy reading it. Author, Virginia Wright has included many fascinating facts about bees and their environment. For example, did you know that drones (boy bees) don’t have stingers? There are pleny of photographs of the little buzzers too, including one of a bee’s tongue. Added bonuses at the end of the book include some lovely photos identifying plants that bees love, and coloring pages for younger readers.I gave the book to my eight-year-old daughter, who really enjoyed reading it. Buzzz…What Honeybees Do, is a great book for teaching kids all about honey bees.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Learning Opportunity! June 22, 2013

By Dolores Ayotte

Format:Paperback

This delightful children’s book is a great educational tool. The information provided about bees and the roles each of them play in the production of honey is very informative. The colorful cover and illustrations positively add to the reading pleasure and learning experience.Talented Author Virginia Wright clearly demonstrates her varied creative abilities as well as her desire to initiate and encourage learning opportunities for children. In her well-researched book…reading is made both fun and beneficial. I would surmise that this is the goal and greatest aspiration for most authors of children’s books and “Buzzzzzzzz…: What Honeybees Do” manages to do just that!Inspirational Author & Book Reviewer ~ Dolores Ayotte
A Woman’s Voice – Inspirational Short Stories – Volume 1

More Amazon Reviews…

Do all honeybees sting?

Posted on January 17, 2012 by Virginia Wright

No, not all honeybees sting… as a matter of fact, it is the boy honeybee called the “Drone” that does not sting! A drone is shown in the picture below on the tip of my husband’s finger.

Drone (Boy)

Buzzzzzzzz…: What Honeybees Do

Virginia Wright | Paperback

5.0 out of 5 stars (10)

$9.57

Most Helpful Customer Reviews:

5.0 out of 5 stars Informative Book about Honeybees
If you want to know all about bees, honey, and hives, this is a book you will want to read. It is written for children ages 8-12, but even adults would enjoy reading it. Author, Virginia Wright has included many fascinating facts about… Read more

by Sherry Ellis

****************************************************************************************

Great Learning Opportunity!

ByDolores Ayotteon June 22, 2013

Format: Paperback

Talented Author Virginia Wright clearly demonstrates her varied creative abilities as well as her desire to initiate and encourage learning opportunities for children. In her well-researched book…reading is made both fun and beneficial. I would surmise that this is the goal and greatest aspiration for most authors of children’s books and “Buzzzzzzzz…: What Honeybees Do” manages to do just that!

Inspirational Author & Book Reviewer ~ Dolores Ayotte
A Woman’s Voice – Inspirational Short Stories – Volume 1

Honey Butter Recipe 2

Posted on January 10, 2012 by Virginia Wright

Pure Honey

½ cup (1-stick) softened, butter

¼ cup pure honey or (add according to taste)

Place butter and honey in mixing bowl and blend for 30 seconds. Enjoy on biscuits, yeast rolls, pancake, waffles, or corn bread. It’s YUMMY! Store in airtight container and refrigerate.

-Virginia Wright

Queen of Recipe Adaptation

A Book to Learn About HONEYBEES, HONEYBEE BASICS:

Buzzzzzzzz WhatHoneybees Do by Virginia Wright

Honey Butter Recipe the Whole Family Will Enjoy!

Posted on January 8, 2012 by Virginia Wright

My husband, a former beekeeper, one summer when we were beekeeping that we would be able to take off some honey from the hives. I was so, EXCITED, and geared up my taste buds for some of that long-awaited honey. I thought about what I would do with the first tastings of pure honey from the “Wright Family Farm,” and the family suggested homemade biscuits. So, I decided I would get my Honey Butter Recipe out and share it online, as it makes for a delicious topping on biscuits. There are all kinds of different recipes for Honey Butter, some call for raw egg, some call for confectioner’s sugar; some add cinnamon…such as mine does.

Experiment for yourself, and when possible, buy pure honey from a Natural Beekeeper that opts not to use chemicals in their beehives. When I talk about “Pure” honey, I’m talking about honey that corn syrup has not been added to it, to stretch the honey. I’m also talking about honey that is taken off a hive where the beekeeper doesn’t use any chemicals in the keeping of their bee colonies inside the hive. Yes, it is true, beekeeping is simple, but complicated– a hobby for some, a source of “money for honey” for others…

Click > SPICY HONEY BUTTER RECIPE

-Virginia Wright

Queen of Recipe Adaptation

A Book to Learn About HONEYBEES, HONEYBEE BASICS:

BuzzzzzzzzWhat Honeybees Do by Virginia Wright

VIRGINIA WRIGHT, Author – Illustrator

The Official Website of Virginia Wright, Author – Illustrator. Designer. Non-fiction Writer. Children's Fiction, Romance & Cookbook Author. Nature Photographer.

Category Archives: Beekeeping