Bees Besieged

By Bill Mares

One Beekeeper’s Bittersweet Journey to Understanding

            During his Odyssey Bill captures the beekeeping industry in its glory and in its wisdom, in its innocence, and with its pants down. The very best and the scary worst of our industry lies between these covers. In his pursuit, he paints the whole picture as no one has done before.

            Similar books, on coffee and salt, chocolate and bananas, rubber, water and other common commodities have been produced over the years. They have examined their histories and politics, their personalities and the many diverse parts and pieces that lurk unseen just below the surface of every group product.

            Bees Besieged examines, too, these common aspects of the U.S. beekeeping industry- the past, present and even the future, the many personalities, and the diverse parts and pieces and places that make up this tiny, esoteric, yet still-critical cog of modern agriculture, not only in the U.S., but in the world.