n and grew up in San Diego. In 1974, he decided to become a professional beekeeper, and was hired by an outfit which comprised over 2000 bee hives and a few unskilled men. Over the following years, he worked for several commercial outfits and did a 5 year stint in a beekeeping supply factory.

In 1991 he moved to upstate New York where he worked as senior apiarist at Cornell's Dyce Lab for Honey Bee Studies. Peter served for many years as president of the Finger Lakes Beekeepers Club, and also as its apiary manager. From about 2010 on, he has been a regular contributor to the American Bee Journal, and has also been published in Bee Culture, Bee World, and others.

For several years he traveled to many states to do presentations based upon his writing. Now in his 70s, he has cut back to a dozen hives and produces honey to sell locally. He lives in a house in the woods outside of Ithaca, NY with his wife and a profusion of wildlife including possums, raccoons, and bears.