From Pamlico Albemarle Wildlife Conservationists

Pamlico Albemarle Wildlife Conservationists is offering deals for new and existing members on nature-based classes at Beaufort County Community College.

These classes, offered through BCCC’s Continuing Education Department, will teach participants about birding, gardening and beekeeping. New members who sign up before May 1 can request reimbursement for one of the following classes. Existing members can request reimbursement for 50 percent of the cost of one of the classes.

Two of the classes, “Birding, Backyard and Beyond” and “Venus Flytraps,” are part of the field trip series.

 

BIRDING, BACKYARD AND BEYOND

Jennifer Lewis will share how to create a good environment for birds in a yard. She will describe the species most commonly found in this area and the rare visitors, which excite the birding community. Lewis will go over appropriate feeders and placement, the best seeds/foods to use, cleaning and maintenance, habitat for encouraging nesting and resources for identifying birds.

During the second part of this class, students will travel to Sylvan Heights Bird Park in Scotland Neck for a guided tour.

The class will have lunch in Tarboro. Participants will pay for their own lunch, but all other expenses are included. This class will take place on Feb. 21 and 23 and normally costs $50.

 

VENUS FLYTRAPS

Venus flytraps only grow in a 70-mile radius around Wilmington. North Carolina is also home to four other carnivorous plants, and all of these grow in the Nature Conservancy’s Green Swamp Preserve in Brunswick County.

In “Venus Flytraps,” BCCC’s biology instructor, Chad Smith, will teach the group about Venus flytraps, sundews, pitcher plants, bladderworts and butterworts. BCCC’s Clay Carter will discuss gardening with carnivorous plants. The Nature Conservancy’s Zack West will lead the field trip through the longleaf pine savannah, which also hosts red-cockaded woodpeckers.

The class will have lunch in Wilmington. Participants will pay for their own meal, but all other expenses are included. This class will take place on April 25 and 27 and normally costs $55.

 

ORGANIC GARDENING

New members can make their garden a more environmentally friendly place through BCCC’s “Organic Gardening.” The class will focus on sustainable growing methods for both vegetable and ornamental gardens. Billy Ray Askew, agriculture technology instructor, will discuss soil health and nutrition.

Participants will learn about composting, mulching, growing cover crops, managing pests, making square-foot gardens and making hay bale gardens. Students will finish the class with plants to take home for their own garden. Judy Keohane of Beaufort County Master Gardeners will lead a workshop on the importance of pollinators and how to encourage them. Clay Carter will discuss vegetative propagation at home and organic rose care.

This class starts on Feb. 16 and would normally cost $55.

 

BEEKEEPING BASICS

“Beekeeping Basics” is for students interested in keeping bees in their garden or farm. They will learn the importance of bees to food crops and garden success, and get a good foundation for beekeeping and a greater appreciation of these vital pollinators. Berry Hines Sr., a certified N.C. Master Beekeeper, will lead this class. Students will visit a beekeeping operation and don a bee suit and inspect hives up close. This class starts April 20 and normally costs $45.

 

PAWC works to protect wildlife and wild places in Beaufort, Dare, Hyde, Martin, Pamlico, Pitt, Tyrrell and Washington counties. In 2016, it partnered with BCCC to raise pollinator-friendly plants to give out to the community and to put on classes about organic gardening. It has also provided an instructional beehive for the beekeeping class.

Interested participants must first register for these classes by calling 252-940-6375 or emailing continuingeducation@beaufortccc.edu. If interested in becoming a member of PAWC or to request reimbursement, call 252-940-8672 or email pamlicowildlife@gmail.com.