Honey bees are a valuable part of the ecosystem of both Chilton County and the world.

Not only do they provide honey, they also are instrumental in pollinating plants and maintaining a consistent food cycle.

A beekeeping class was held on Thursday at the Chilton County Extension office and offered information to those interested in becoming beekeepers.

According to Urban Regional Agent Sallie Lee, beekeeping is more complicated than it used to be because of the increase in diseases that can harm the bees.

There are between 139,600 and 212,000 beekeepers in the United States, with 108 in Chilton County, and 68 of those are members of the Chilton County Beekeepers Association.

The class allowed for questions that people often associate with beekeeping such as what plants to grow and what happens if stung by a bee.

Regional Extension Agent Nelson Wynn expressed tips when choosing the types of flowers to plant nearby for the bees to pollinate from.

According to Wynn, perennials are better than annuals because they are reliable yearlong and the nectar is often better quality.

Chilton County Beekeepers Association President Bill Evans attended the meeting and said Petals from the Past Nursery in Jemison labels its plants as bee-specific to help in the selection process.

Certain plants as such as dandelion and clover are viewed as weeds by most people but are two reliable sources for bees to pollinate, Wynn said. He instructed the class that beekeepers should consider that before mowing the yard.

A variety of plants were discussed with different blooming periods throughout the year.

In order to always have a source for bees to pollinate from, Wynn said, it is best to grow a variety of plants and to not have all the plants bloom around the same time.

If interested in joining the Chilton County Beekeepers Association, call (205) 310-3800, (205) 688-1287 or email Bill@RoseHillFarmLLC.com. A $10 entry fee is required, and you do not have to be a current beekeeper to join.

“We’ve got people in the meetings that have been coming for years and they don’t have bees, but they say that one day they will,” Evans said.

The association’s meetings are held on the first Thursday of every month at 6 p.m. at the Clanton Recreation Center and offer various educational programs each time.

Evans has been a beekeeper for 25 years and welcomes anyone looking to start or a seasoned veteran to the monthly meetings.

“We don’t restrict people to have a certain level of experience,” Evans said.