Beekeeping class is offered

The WSU Master Gardeners are offering an in-person class on beekeeping next month.

The class, set for April 13 from 1-2:30 p.m., will be taught by apiarist Pat McGinty.

There are over 30,000 species of bees in the world; in North America native bees include sweat bees, leaf cutter bees, carpenter bees, and mason bees to name a few.

All are pollinators but only two types of bees are known to make honey – the most common being the honey bee (Apis Mellifera) and the stingless bee of South America.

"But the honey bee seems to be disappearing as fewer are seen in our gardens and on our fruit trees every year," Beverly Sarles, Master Gardener volunteer coordinator, said in a press release. "Most wanna-beekeepers are looking for honey and/or garden pollination from this industrious little bee but beekeeping isn’t what most people think."

The class fee is $5, ($3 for MGs), and can be paid by check, money order, or through PayPal.

This in-person class will be held at the WSU Extension Office in Newport, 227 S. Garden Ave. To register, contact Beverly Sarles, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., at 509-447-2401 or email anytime at: beverly.sarles@wsu.edu.