The Iowa State University Extension office that serves Hamilton County is offering a beginners class on bee keeping. Registration for the class is currently open, and registering for the classes can be done by calling the office in Webster City at 515-832-9597, online or by email.

This virtual course will begin on Feb. 6, with five weekly training sessions from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The cost is $40 for a book and other class materials.

Roy Kraft, instructor for the course, will address the health benefits of honey, how to start raising bees and how to produce and handle the honey. He will also address questions from existing beekeepers who are already raising bees and just want more information on how to keep the bees healthy and protect them from disease.

Kraft will cover building a hive, how to feed bees, honey harvesting, wintering bees in Iowa, beehive terminology, basic equipment needed and a few more topics.

This class is designed for families and individuals of all ages interested in learning more about bees or gaining tips on maintaining a healthy hive.

Each class will be held virtually starting Feb. 2, and continue each week: Feb. 9, 16, 23, and March 2 from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Participants will receive a book on raising honeybees and other class materials as part of the registration fee.

Online registration is available at: https://go.iastate.edu/EER6YT or call ISU Extension and Outreach, Hamilton County, at 515-832-9597 or email Susan Schmitz at sschmitz@iastate.edu.