Members of the Dartmouth Historical and Arts Society are buzzing about their November program.

Joseph Tardif, who has been keeping bees since about 1963, will offer a presentation on bees and beekeeping at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 14 at the Russells Mills Schoolhouse, 1205 Russells Mills Road.

Invited to a talk by a student in a biology class and inspired because he needed a hobby, Tardif started by purchasing a newly captured swarm from a fellow beekeeper for $25 and grew the hobby into a small pollinating business of 350 hives. Later the hives were all distributed free to new beekeepers, some of whom went on to start their own small honey productions.

The talk will consist of his initial experiences with the bees, discovering the financial potential of his hives, finding customers for his pollination service, expansion of the number of hives, various races of bees that were chosen to occupy the hives, and other apiary topics. 

A $5 donation is suggested. Refreshments will be served.