DAMARISCOTTA — A seven-week course on how to get started as a beekeeper is scheduled for 6 to 8:30 p.m. Feb. 27 to April 10 at the American Legion Hall on Business Route 1.

This course, presented by experienced beekeepers from the Knox-Lincoln County Beekeepers, the Maine State Beekeepers Association and Maine’s State Bee Inspector, is designed for first- and second-year beekeepers, according to a news release from Jean Vose, program director of the Knox-Lincoln County Beekeepers.

Honey bees play a vital role in the pollination of fruits and vegetables. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, approximately one third of a person’s diet comes from insect pollinated plants with honey bees responsible for more than 80 percent of that pollination, according to the release.

Whether you have an interest in becoming a backyard beekeeper for your gardening passion, or wish to consider keeping hives for a honey crop, or desire to learn more about the community of honey bees which are disappearing at an alarming rate, attending a local bee school program can provide you with a basic foundation to get started.

Beekeeping basics, equipment needs, seasonal management, honey extraction, honey bee diseases and pest management are a few of a wide variety of topics that will be covered during the course in lecture format, hands-on experiences at station rotations and workshops.

The course fee is $50, payable by check or cash at the first class to cover the cost of a textbook and a pro-rated membership to KLCB.

To register, call Jane Dunstan at 586-6800 or email [email protected].

For more information, visit klcbee.com.