The Polk County Extension Center, in cooperation with Holbert’s Bee Supplies, will offer a series of five classes on beginning beekeeping. Phil Holbert, beekeeper for 25 years, will teach the classes.

The classes will begin on Thursday, Feb. 10 at 7:30 p.m. Anyone interested in enrolling in the class should contact the extension center at 828-894-8218. The classes will be held on five consecutive Thursday evenings and is limited to 12 participants. There will be a small registration fee.

“Our staff has been very concerned about the decline of our native honeybee population,” said John Vining, Polk County Extension Director. “We want to encourage gardeners and others interested in trying beekeeping as a hobby to consider these classes.”

The five-session course will cover the basics of bee care from starting a new hive to maintaining and caring for mature hive of bees.

For more information, contact the Polk County Extension Center at 828-894-8218.