This in-person introductory class by Maine’s 2025 Beekeeper of the Year offers a better understanding of what is required to enter the fascinating hobby of beekeeping. We will discuss the resources needed to get started, including equipment, time, and expenses that will help you decide if this fun and rewarding hobby is right for you. Questions are encouraged. Joseph Barberi has been a beekeeper for 10 years and has an apiary of 12 hives in Kittery Point. He's a Cornell University Master Beekeeper, a lifetime member of both the Maine State Beekeeping Association and Eastern Apiculture Society. And he was voted 2025 Maine State Beekeeper of the Year.