ROCKINGHAM – The Richmond County Beekeepers Association is sponsoring a Workshop for ‘Beekeepers and Wanna Beekeepers.’
‘If you are interested or think you may be interested in the fascinating world of beekeeping, then this workshop is for you.’ This statement on the workshop leaflet says it all. All interested individuals may attend.
This workshop is a beginning beekeeping short course/workshop. According to the North Carolina State Beekeepers Association (NCSBA) website, topics for the one-day course will include wooden ware, history, hive location, hive health, etc. Richmond County Beekeepers Association members will instruct the workshop participants on these topics.
Weather permitting, there will be a live hive of bees onsite, inside a cage, for examination and identification of nectar, pollen, queen, workers, drones, comb, etc. There will also be opportunities for questions from the class.
David Auman, president of the local chapter for ten years, stated that this chapter is one of the oldest in the state. There are around 50 members from Richmond and surrounding counties. Auman says he became interested in beekeeping when he was a youngster, when “an older gentleman named Ether Bennett, a beekeeper himself, bought bees from this area of the sandhills to make purple honey.” Auman became interested in doing the same thing.
Auman also stated that within the next several months, the association will be sponsoring a class that “will make you a certified beekeeper.” Auman says that “the members give talks at schools, 4H meetings, Scout meetings, and other organizations to educate people about bees.”
According to Auman, “the bee is the most studied insect in the world. Its most important job is pollination. Bees are responsible for about one third of what we eat.”
Susan Kelly, County Extension Director & Extension Agent, Community Resource Development, stated that, “The Richmond County Beekeepers are an independent group, not part of Extension, but the best resource for anyone interested in learning how to keep bees.” She went on to inform, “Not only do they offer a monthly educational program, they have built a community around a common interest and they embrace newcomers too. I always encourage anyone I meet with an interest in bees to join our beekeepers!”
The workshop will be held on Saturday, March 17, from 9 a.m-3 p.m. at the Richmond County Cooperative Extension Office at 123 Caroline Street in Rockingham. The cost is $5 and will include handouts, door prizes, snacks and a light lunch.
To register for the workshop or to learn more about beekeeping, call the Extension Office at 910-997-8255.
For more information on Richmond County Beekeepers Association:
Chapter Website or Facebook page address: | |
Meeting day: | 4th Tuesday |
Meeting time: | 7:00 PM |
Meeting location: | Richmond County Cooperative Extension Center |
Meeting location address: | 123 Caroline Street |
