AarTiana, welcome to our forum, wonderful that you found us. You are striving for a wonderful thing, that be, to bring the bee population back up, that is just great. You will eventually get your bees, one way or another, getting them free would be such a big bonus. Dedication to travel over two hours to take some classes, good on ya!!!
You will find that once you get bees (well, probably even before that), you will be held deeply beneath that spell of the honeybee. It is a powerful thing, people that keep bees know exactly what I mean. You will feel excitement when you begin to study about them, and the more you understand their secret little life, the more you will be compelled to learn. And your hands will itch to get bees, to work with them, to get to know them, up and personal, you wait, you will see. In the meantime, stick around, we love new members. We are here for you. Any questions that you may have, we are only those few keystrokes away. Ask questions, that is how we all learn. Have that most wonderful and beautiful day, of love and health. Cindi