The Eastern Panhandle Beekeepers Association will be offering its Beginning Beekeepers Class again this winter. Classes will be held at the WVU Fruit Research Lab in Kearneysville. Classes will be held six consecutive Tuesday evenings from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. beginning Jan. 20, 2015.

Classes are open to adults and children (age 9 and over) who are interested in keeping bees as well as those who are just interested in learning about honey bees. Class size is limited so please register early. The classes will cover all aspects of beekeeping such as the equipment you need to start beekeeping, the development of your colony, and managing your colony throughout the year. The cost of the class is $85 per family of three and includes textbooks, and a one year membership in the West Virginia Eastern Panhandle Beekeepers Association (WVEPBA) and the West Virginia State Beekeepers Association (WVBA). All beekeeping equipment, supplies and bees must be purchased separately. If you do not have a place to keep bees WVEPBA can help you locate someone who wants beehives on their property. WVEPBA also has a mentoring program for those club members who wish to have an experienced beekeeper guide them. Registration forms may be downloaded at he WVEPBA website www.wvepba.org