The Cookeville Beekeepers Association will host a free one-day course this Saturday to teach beginners the essential skills needed to start their own hives.
Cookeville Beekeepers Association Treasurer Raye Ann Simmons said the organization has offered this class for several years to meet a growing local interest in the hobby. The workshop gives attendees a chance to learn the basics before committing to the practice.
“There’s a lot to it, but it’s it is just a lot of fun and honey bees are so interesting,” Simmons said. “They’re just fascinating. And we have a lot of folks who are interested in and so we just thought you know we would love to offer something like that.”
Simmons said the class will cover the best locations to place hives, necessary equipment, and proper protective gear. Participants will also learn about pest control and how to ensure bees have adequate water and foraging sources.
“There’s just a lot of things that have caused the decline of the honey bees and that has to do with not having as much to forage on, also the pesticides and those who are just not farming anymore,” Simmons said. “But our food sources need the pollination.”
Simmons said the loss of native wildflowers from increased mowing and the clearing of fence rows has eliminated many areas where bees traditionally forage. Educating the public helps protect existing hives and encourages collaboration with farmers on safe pesticide use.
“And if we don’t have that then there’s going to be a decline in that and we sure want to be able to protect what we already have,” Simmons said. “And the best that we can do that is to have a lot of education out there so that folks will know, you know, how to treat their bees and then also for us to have good neighbors to be able to, you know, just discuss with each other, you know, how we can best take care of them and not have, you know, not spraying and things like that that causes just a lot of the trouble with that.”
Simmons said anyone is welcome to attend the workshop, including seasoned beekeepers, farmers, and gardeners looking to improve their fruit and vegetable yields. The association pairs new beekeepers with an experienced mentor to help them set up their woodenware and establish a support system.
“But, you know, we just hope to see anybody there who is interested and we’ll try to our best to get you excited and get you plugged into beekeeping if that’s what you’re interested in,” Simmons said.
The free event takes place Saturday from 8am-3pm at Collegeside Church of Christ.