The Eastern Panhandle Beekeepers Association invites participants for its annual beekeeping short course.

This introduction to beekeeping will be conducted at the WVU Fruit Tree Research and Education Center on W.Va. 9 from 7 to 9 p.m. on six consecutive Monday evenings from February 8 through March 15. The “hands-on” instruction is designed to enable the students, upon completion of the course to begin keeping their own colonies of bees.

The total cost per family (up to 3 members) for the course, which includes the text book, classroom instruction, and membership in the EPBA and its parent WV state organization is $45. After the classroom phase of learning, a field day will be conducted to allow students to gain practical experience working with live bees in an apiary. Additional workshops will be held for those desiring to assemble their own equipment and gain additional skill in carrying out beekeeping tasks.

“The Panhandle is one of the more active areas in the state for beekeeping,” said EPBA Treasurer Mike Austin. “Last year we had 85 families complete the course and helped them to acquire over 150 colonies of bees that were successfully introduced into our community. Many of them did exceptionally well producing honey in their first year.

“Because of unprecedented public interest in saving our dwindling bee populations and the desire of many people, young and old, to get personally involved we overdid it a little last year.” Classroom size is limited to 80 people.

The cutoff date for enrollment will be Jan. 15. Anyone desiring to attend the course should contact Mike Austin at 75 Howard Farm Rd., Shepherdstown, W.V. 25443, provide the names of to three family members desiring to attend: full contact information including mailing address, phone number and email address: and a check made out to EPBA for $45; or preferably by visiting the EPBA web page at WWW.wvepba.org.