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The Escambia County Extension Service is “as busy as bees” preparing classes and events for those interested in becoming beekeepers.

For those interested, the local Extension Service will offer advise on honeybees and proper care of hives and the products created by the bees. Honeybee hives produce six nutritional and medicinal products including honey, pollen, troy jelly, beeswax, propolis and venom.

Upcoming beekeeping events include:

Southwest Beekeepers Association Quarterly meeting will be held Jan. 15 at 6:30 p.m. at the Flomaton Pentecostal Holiness Church at 854 Palafox Street in Flomaton.

A Beginning Beekeeping – Part III Class on Inspection and Management of hives will be held Jan. 20 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Escambia County Extension Office at 175 Ag Science Drive in Brewton.

The 29th Annual alabama Beekeepers Symposium will be held Feb. 3 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Clanton Conference and Performing Arts Center at 1850 Lay Dam Road in Clanton. Registration fee (including lunch) is $45. Register online by Jan. 30 at https://www.aces.edu/go/3802.

A class on Swarms will be held Feb. 17 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Escambia County Extension Office at 175 Ag Science Drive in Brewton.

During the months of March through July, site visits will be conducted with specific dates to be announced.

For additional information, contact the Escambia County Extension Office at 251-867-7760.