While most people are aware of the role that honeybees play in the pollination of ornamental flowers, many are unaware of the crucial role that they play in food crop propagation. Honeybees are directly responsible for the pollination of approximately one third of the foods that we consume in the United States. They also pollinate grain plants, such as alfalfa, which serve as food for livestock that we consume.

During the last 15-20 years, both the number of honeybees and the number of beekeepers have been declining. Honeybees have been affected by pesticides, declining bee habitats, pests, and diseases. Commercial beekeepers have been leaving the industry without replacement. The average age of hobbyist beekeepers is now over 60 years.

In an effort to increase the number of hobbyist beekeepers, the Moore County Chapter of the North Carolina State Beekeepers' Association is offering a workshop on honeybees and their care. The workshop is designed to provide the knowledge and experience for a person to become an established hobbyist beekeeper.

The workshop will consist of two Saturday classroom sessions, March 21 and March 28 from 8 a.m. to noon at the Moore County Agriculture Center, 707 Pinehurst Avenue in Carthage. Following each classroom session, hands-on instruction will be provided in a local working apiary.

Instruction will be provided by Master Beekeepers from the Moore County chapter and by Bill Sheppard, NCDA Bee Inspector for South-Central North Carolina. Hugh Madison, authorized dealer for Brushy Mountain Bee Farm, will be available as a local resource for participants to order all necessary equipment and supplies to begin their own beekeeping hobby.

"Beekeeping is an enormously educational and rewarding hobby," says a spokesman. "It has a beneficial impact upon the environment and provides honey and beeswax for the beekeeper. If you wish to become a hobbyist beekeeper, or if you just want to learn more about the wonderful social structure of the honeybee, this workshop is for you."

The cost of the workshop is $20 and includes a textbook for beginning beekeepers. Pre-registration is required by March 7.

To register, contact Sanford Toole at (910) 295-6676 or by e-mail at stoole@nc.rr.com.