Discover the fascinating hobby of beekeeping!  Join us for a seven-week course, presented by experienced beekeepers from the Knox-Lincoln County Beekeepers (KLCB), the Maine State Beekeepers Association and Maine’s State Bee Inspector, who will provide you with basic information to get started as a beekeeper.  This course is designed for first and second year beekeepers.

Honey bees play a vital role in the pollination of our fruits and vegetables.  According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, approximately one third of our diet comes from insect pollinated plants with honey bees responsible for more than 80 percent of that pollination. Whether you have an interest in becoming a backyard beekeeper for your gardening passion, or wish to consider keeping hives for a honey crop, or simply desire to learn more about the fascinating community of honey bees which are disappearing at an alarming rate, attending a local bee school program will provide you with a basic foundation to get started.

Beekeeping basics, equipment needs, seasonal management, honey extraction, honey bee diseases and pest management are just a few of a wide variety of topics which will be covered during this course in lecture format, hands on experiences at station rotations and workshops.  Not only will you learn about what is needed to care for these incredibly important insects, you will meet other community members who share your interest in beekeeping.

Classes will be held on consecutive Tuesday evenings from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the American Legion Hall in Damariscotta, located on Business Route 1, beginning on Feb. 27 and ending April 10.

Course fee is $50 payable by check or cash, at the first class to cover the cost of a textbook and a pro-rated membership to KLCB.

Visit us at www.klcbee.com  to find out more about the 2018 Bee School and the 2018 KLCB program of events.

To register for bee school or if you have further questions concerning the course, please call Jane Dunstan at 586-6800 or email at rmllamas1@gmail.com