NEWBERRY — The first of three Gardening Series classes being offered this year by the Newberry Soil and Water Conservation District will be June 14 and it will be all about bees.

Danielle Himsey, NSWCD district coordinator, said the idea for a bee class came from a member of the Newberry Soil and Water Conservation District.

Himsey said she likes to get insight from members on what they are currently doing with their gardens, or what they are interested in learning.

“David MacFawn with the South Carolina Mid-State Bee Keeper Association will be coming up and I told him to talk about whatever he feels will be of interest to people. He will talk about bees and then he will do a question and answer portion,” she said.

She said a member suggested doing something involving bees, and Himsey ran with the idea.

“Last year for Camp Conservation I had someone come out and talk about bees, and the kids were really interested in the presentation. It really peaked my interest as well. I ended up getting bees,” she said. “I thought it would be cool, and I figured I would start off the gardening series learning about bees.”

Himsey believes the class will be beneficial to not only those who are interested in having bees, but also backyard gardeners.

“Bees are good pollinators. It is good just to be knowledgeable about them. That is how it ties into a garden series. They have a lot to do with gardening,” she said.

When Himsey first started the gardening series three years ago, her plan was to alternate the classes.

The first year was more about starting a garden. The classes involved starting a garden, the second involved fertilizers and pesticides and the third taught members about canning and harvesting. The second year the gardening series grew to more advanced gardening practices.

“There was so much interest the series just kept expanding, so I have decided to keep expanding it and maybe alternate every five years,” Himsey said. “We have a lot of repeat gardeners come to each one, but we also get a lot of new people as well.”

If interested in participating in the first Gardening Series class you will need to RSVP by June 9, and can do so by calling 803-597-3160. Himsey said she needs people to RSVP beforehand because she plans on having a honey themed buffet.

The course will be free for NSWCD members, and $10 for non-members.

The Gardening Series should be taking place at Piedmont Technical College, but that is still to be determined.

The first of three Gardening Series classes being offered this year by the Newberry Soil and Water Conservation District will be June 14 and it will be all about bees.
https://www.newberryobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/web1_culossofbees03-1.jpgThe first of three Gardening Series classes being offered this year by the Newberry Soil and Water Conservation District will be June 14 and it will be all about bees. Courtesy photo

By Andrew Wigger

awigger@civitasmedia.com

Reach Andrew Wigger at 803-276-0625 ext. 1867 or on Twitter @ TheNBOnews.