One can discover the fascinating hobby of beekeeping by attending a 7-week course presented by experienced beekeepers from the Knox-Lincoln County Beekeepers and the Maine State Beekeepers Association, and Maine’s State Bee Inspector, who will provide one with basic information to get started as a beekeeper. This course is designed for first- and second-year beekeepers.
Honeybees play a vital role in the pollination of fruits and vegetables. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, approximately one third of one’s diet comes from insect-pollinated plants, with honeybees responsible for more than 80 percent of that pollination.
Whether one has an interest in becoming a backyard beekeeper for one’s gardening passion, or one wishes to consider keeping hives for a honey crop, or one simply desires to learn more about the fascinating community of honeybees, which are disappearing at an alarming rate, attending a local bee school program will provide one with a basic foundation to get started.
Beekeeping basics, equipment needs, seasonal management, honey extraction, honeybee diseases, and pest management are just a few of a wide variety of topics that will be covered during this course in lecture format, hands-on experiences at station rotations, and workshops. Not only will one learn about what is needed to care for these incredibly important insects, one will meet other community members who share an interest in beekeeping.
Classes will be held on consecutive Tuesday evenings from 6-8:30 p.m. at the American Legion Hall in Damariscotta, located on Business Route 1, beginning on Tuesday, Feb. 27 and ending Tuesday, April 10.
The course fee is $50, payable by check or cash at the first class to cover the cost of a textbook and a prorated membership to Knox-Lincoln County Beekeepers.
Go to klcbee.com to find out more about the 2018 bee school and the 2018 Knox-Lincoln County Beekeepers program of events.
To register for bee school or to ask further questions concerning the course, call Jane Dunstan at 586-6800 or email rmllamas1@gmail.com.
