I dedicate this book to my wonderful wife, Leila, a creative and kindred spirit who loves to make things with her own hands.

To my son, Joshua, who spent many hot summer days helping put up electric fences, chasing bears away, and lifting equipment as we checked the hives, and who hand-cranked literally hundreds and hundreds of pounds of honey through the extractor before we put a motor on it.

To my daughter, Mackenzie, my biggest cheerleader, who has always had faith in my abilities and has encouraged me all the way, even though she is terribly afraid of bees.

Finally, to all people young and old who want to feel a direct connection to the land and the joy of making something with their own two hands.