Four-week beekeeping class creates a buzz in Lee County

When beginners complete four weeks of beekeeping classes, they'll have everything they need to start collecting honey but one critical element: The bees.

They'll have to buy their own. But it's an investment apiarist Don Murray believes is worth it.

He uses honey to sweeten his coffee and a nearly endless list of food.

"You can use it in anything and everything instead of sugar," he said.

Beginners will get tips, tools and expert advice during a four-week beekeeping class through the University of Florida/IFAS Lee County Extension, in collaboration with the Beekeepers Association of Southwest Florida, beginning May 30. Registration closes Wednesday.

"Bees are always teaching you something," said Murray, who operates Heritage Pointe Pure Honey and sells it locally. "Every time you think you know about them, they throw something else at you."

The USDA reports the total number of managed honey bee colonies has decreased from 5 million in the 1940s to 2.5 million today. So it's important to introduce people to the hobby and cultivate an interest in the species that contributes more than $15 billion in increased crop value each year.

Murray, who taught the class for three years and has turned it over to Celeste Fournier of the association, said because of the need for bees, they are at a premium. A quick search finds bees for $110 in Florida.

Murray lost one of his Fort Myers hives in February and still doesn't know why.

"No matter how diligent and how careful you are, you're going to lose a hive," he said, chatting as he looked through a hive for a queen bee, pointing out pollen, honey, larva and wax while workers bees ignored him. He has about 80 hives in Immokalee and several on his property in south Fort Myers.

A beekeeper for the past decade, he's taught classes on the subject and said 30 to 40 percent of all hives are lost each year. While there are any number of possibilities, some beekeepers saw losses of up to 90 percent in 2006 from Colony Collapse Disorder, mites and use of pesticides.

Florida crops, including oranges, blueberries, peppers and melons, are dependent on the bees for pollination.

Murray encourages beginners to start with one hive and start a second as soon as they can. If something happens to one hive, they have a back up, can grow it and split it in two.

Murray says most people can keep hives on their property, the exceptions being neighbor complaints and homeowner's association rules.

"We can produce a lot of bees around here," he said.

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If you go

• What: The University of Florida/ IFAS Lee County Extension, in collaboration with the Beekeepers Association of Southwest Florida, offers a four-week introductory beekeeping class.

• When: Classes begin May 30; registration open through Wednesday

• Where: Morning classroom sessions are at the North Fort Myers Recreation Center, 2000 North Recreation Park Way, North Fort Myers. Afternoon practical sessions are on the apiary/farm of a BASF member beekeeper.

• Cost: $200. Students will receive a basic beekeeping startup kit, including a bee veil for face protection, a bee-smoker, educational resource books and a bee hive box. Make checks payable to: 'BASF' and mail to: Beekeeping Class, 3410 Palm Beach Blvd., Fort Myers, FL 33916.

• Information: Celeste Fournier at 284-4078 or e-mail celeste@swfbees.com. UF/IFAS calendar: lee.ifas.ufl.edu