CANTON — The monthly Bees & Beekeeping Discussion Group will meet at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, April 30, in the Betty Evans Community Room at the E.J. Noble Medical Building, 80 E. Main St.

This month's session will feature a special tutorial on how to install both "packages" and "nucleus colonies" of honeybees, an essential skill for local beekeepers preparing for the arrival of more than a quarter million bees to the North Country. The bees, being delivered through the Local Living Venture's (LLV) annual honeybee buying co-op, will be used to replenish hives lost over the winter or to establish new colonies.

Local Living Venture volunteer Don Matheson will lead the tutorial, demonstrating installation techniques with full beekeeping equipment on hand. (No live bees will be present at the event.)

In addition, members of the Heuvelton Boy Scout Troop, led by Brody Baldwin, will offer a brief presentation on a special project — supported by the LLV — to create habitat for wild native bees in St. Lawrence County.

Beekeepers of all experience levels are encouraged to attend the monthly discussions, which are held on the last Wednesday of each month, along with seasonal field days and workshops.

“There is so much to know about these amazing creatures," said Bee Group co-coordinator Justin Bennett. "Having local people with lots of knowledge makes for a great discussion and information-sharing session that everyone benefits from.”

The event is sponsored by the Local Living Venture, a nonprofit organization that coordinates "resourceful living skills" workshops throughout the St. Lawrence River Valley region. A small, pass-the-hat donation is requested from those who are able to contribute.

For more information or to join the LLV's email list for future event notices, contact LocalLivingVenture@gmail.com or text (315) 347-4223.