Beekeeping class offered May 11

Alachua County extension is offering a May 11 class to teach interested residents how to keep bees and extract honey from hives.

The class, called "Beekeeping: Honey Extraction and Hive Management," is set for May 11 from 9 a.m. until noon. It will be held at the UF Honey Bee Lab, 1881 Natural Area Drive in Gainesville.

This is the first time the class will be held at the new honey extraction facility at the Honey Bee Research and Extension Laboratory, according to an Alachua County government news release about the event.

Commercial horticulture agent Tatiana Sanchez will teach the course, which costs $15 to register. Participants must register online through eventbrite.com or call the UF/IFAS Extension office at 352-955-2402 by May 6. The course is capped at 40 students, and there are no refunds. 

Students are asked to wear protective clothing that includes closed-toe shoes, long sleeves and a beekeeping suit, if available.