Habitat disruption, pesticide use, monocultures and illness have been blamed for a 35 percent decline in U.S. bee colonies each year since 2006, when the alarm was first raised about "colony collapse disorder," in which seemingly healthy bees abandon their hives. Would you like to be part of the solution to this very real crisis? Honeybees are an asset to the backyard gardener because they pollinate fruit trees, berries, vegetables and other garden plants. And of course, their honey is a delicious and valuable product you can harvest at home and share with your family and friends. Have you been interested in adding pollinators to your garden and sweet, sweet honey to your pantry? Come learn the basics of beekeeping from beekeeper Shannon Ryan of City Farm and Garden and find out what it takes to keep bees and your garden's ecosystem healthy and thriving.

BASIC BACKYARD BEEKEEPING 101, 6-8 p.m., Jan. 28 and Feb. 4, Tacoma Nature Center, 1919 S. Tyler St., Tacoma, $25-$36, 253.591.6439