CANTON -- Beekeepers of all levels are welcome to attend the Bees & Beekeeping Discussion Group that usually meets on the last Wednesday of every month in Canton.

The meeting schedule has been adjusted this month due to Thanksgiving, and will be held on the special early date of Wednesday, November 18, at the usual time of 7 p.m.

The gathering is held in the Betty Evans Community Room, upstairs in the E.J. Noble Medical Building at 80 E. Main Street, next door to the Best Western in Canton.

Complete newcomers to beekeeping are more than welcome though it is advisable to have read through a basic course such as the "Beekeeping for Dummies" book, or online resources, in order to be familiar with the basic concepts of keeping bees.

The gathering is a casual group setting where all are welcome to share their questions, successes and challenges in a friendly atmosphere. Participants are encouraged to share valuable information about local beekeeping with each other and experienced beekeepers provide a seasonal checklist of discussion topics for bee health and wellness.

The discussion for November will include follow up on the recent workshop that shared techniques for protecting the bees over the Winter, but there is a lot of information for new beekeepers interested in starting hives next Summer as well. It is not too soon to plan for Spring beekeeping and it is actually a good idea to start now.

The Bees and Beekeeping Discussion Group gathering is on a pass-the-hat small donation basis. Donations benefit the sponsor of the group, the Local Living Venture (LLV), a non-profit community group coordinating "resourceful living skills workshops" for a more capable community in the St. Lawrence River Valley.

Many resources are available at the LLV web page www.LocalLivingVenture.org/content/bees-beekeeping-resources. Interested individuals may write to LocalLivingVenture@gmail.com or call 347-4223 for more information and to get on the e-mailing list for future notices.