The holidays are over and the reality of winter – what there is of it – is settling in. Cabin fever for gardeners will be setting in soon so here are a few ways to beat the winter gardening blues.

Beekeeping

Beekeeping is a popular hobby for many people, but to do it right takes serious education and investment. The Inland Empire Beekeepers and WSU Spokane County Extension will host a series of beginning beekeeping classes and field days starting Feb. 9 at the WSU Extension Office, 222 N. Havana St., in Spokane. The class runs 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. with several field days held at later dates in the spring.

You will learn about types of bees and their biology, equipment and hive management, managing bees through the year, managing diseases and pests, food sources for bees and much more.

The cost is $85. If the class fills, a second class will be held Feb. 25.

Register through WSU Extension at extension.wsu.edu/spokane/event/2019-apprentice-beekeeping-class-feb-9/

Community gardens

If you want to start a community garden, the Spokane Community Gardens Association and WSU Extension Office are offering a beginner class on Jan. 29 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the WSU Extension. As the insructor, I will cover in class how to build a sustainable community that will then help build the garden and connect you with support and resources available in the community. The cost is $35. WSU scholarships are available. Register through the Community Colleges of Spokane at (509) 270-6050.

Farm animals

If you would like to keep sheep, small pigs and goats in the city of Spokane you must be certified through WSU Extension. The goat keeping class will be Feb. 5 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the WSU Extension Office. If you want to keep small breeds of pigs and sheep, these two classes will be held back-to-back on Feb. 26. The Pig Class will be from 5 to 7 p.m. and the Sheep Class will be 7 to 9 p.m. The cost for each class is $35 per family at the same address. Scholarships are available through WSU Extension. Register through the Community Colleges of Spokane at (509) 270-6050.

Horticulture

How about an in-depth introduction to horticulture? The WSU Master Gardeners are again hosting a 12-week horticulture series starting today through April 4 from 9 a.m. to noon at the WSU Extension Office. Cost for the 12-week series is $275 or $35 per class. For a complete list of topics and registration information check out the Master Gardeners website at extension.wsu.edu/spokane/2016/10/2018-horticulture-class-series/

Grafting

The second annual Scion Wood Exchange and Grafting Workshop will be March 16, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Resurrection Episcopal Church, 15319 E. Eighth Ave., in Spokane Valley. Held in conjunction with the Spokane Edible Tree Project and the Lost Apple Project, the exchange will have more than 100 varieties of apple scion wood available for purchase. In conjunction with the exchange, there will be a grafting class from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Entrance is free while the cost of the grafting class is $40 with required registration at https://extension.wsu.edu/spokane/event/scion-wood-grafting-class/. The cost of the class includes root stock and scion wood.