Bunbury, Western Australia

Beginner's Beekeeping CourseLearn Beekeeping the Natural Way

14th & 15th November

Read More

14th & 15th November

Saturday & Sunday
9:30am to 4.00pm each day
$470
One time payment
Bookings Closed.
See upcoming classes & courses
Limited to 20 people
Beekeeper, Adrian Iodice, is holding up a Kenyan top bar hive frame of honeycomb, showing five class participants a piece of honeycomb covered in bees.
Natural Beekeeper, Adrian Iodice, with open hands towards a Kenyan Top Bar Hive. He is explaining the positioning of the hive.
A close-up shot shows numerous bees crawling on a section of golden honeycomb.
A close-up shot shows numerous bees crawling on a section of golden honeycomb.
Six adult course participants, standing behind two newly built Kenyan Top Bar Hives.
A close up view of several bees, clustered on a piece of honeycomb inside a Kenyan Top Bar Hive.
Beekeeper, Adrian Iodice, is carefully inspecting a frame of honeycomb covered with bees inside a wooden Kenyan Top Bar Hive.
Two fair-skinned hands are carefully lifting a frame of golden honeycomb densely covered with dark bees out of a light-colored wooden Kenyan Top Bar Hive. The hive is open, revealing multiple top bars and another frame of honeycomb with bees below. The setting is outdoors in a sunny environment with blurred green foliage in the background. The focus is on the delicate process of inspecting the bee colony and their honeycomb within this type of natural beehive. The bees appear to be Western honey bees (Apis mellifera).

Experience the benefits of organic beekeeping.

Understand the principles of natural and sustainable beekeeping.

This course provides a comprehensive introduction to the principles of organic beekeeping. Adrian’s instruction covers essential techniques in hive management, swarm catching, and honey harvesting, helping you create a healthy environment for your bees while supporting broader ecological balance and sustainability.

enrol now
A selection of various Kenyan top bar Hive images framed inside honeycomb shapes. Some are close-ups and some are images of Adrian teaching beekeeping courses.

Experience the benefits of organic beekeeping.

Understand the principles of natural and sustainable beekeeping.

This course provides a comprehensive introduction to the principles of organic beekeeping. Adrian’s instruction covers essential techniques in hive management, swarm catching, and honey harvesting, helping you create a healthy environment for your bees while supporting broader ecological balance and sustainability.

enrol now

This course is for you if:

  • You are new to beekeeping and need step-by-step guidance from experts.

  • You have beekeeping experience and seek to adopt bee-centric techniques.

  • You are passionate about connecting with and appreciating the miraculous lives of bees.

  • You aim to practice environmentally friendly beekeeping.

  • If you live in Bunbury, Australind, Eaton, Dalyellup, Busselton, Donnybrook, or the surrounding area

Adrian Iodice is holding up a top bar with honeycomb covered in bees. Students close by are leaning in to see.
Adrian Iodice is holding up a top bar with honeycomb covered in bees. Students close by are leaning in to see.

Discover

  • The various stages of a honey bee's lifecycle and their communal roles.

  • The role of natural honeycomb in maintaining healthy hives.

  • How to safely capture a swarm and the necessary equipment.

  • Optimal strategies for beehive placement to ensure productivity.

  • The benefits of honey bee products like honey, propolis, and beeswax for health.

  • Kenyan top bar hive management techniques for sustainable beekeeping.

A detailed close-up shows a single Western honey bee (Apis mellifera) with a light brown and black striped abdomen, delicate translucent wings, and fuzzy thorax. It is positioned on a section of golden-brown honeycomb, with its head and front legs inside one of the hexagonal cells. The background is softly blurred.
A detailed close-up shows a single Western honey bee (Apis mellifera) with a light brown and black striped abdomen, delicate translucent wings, and fuzzy thorax. It is positioned on a section of golden-brown honeycomb, with its head and front legs inside one of the hexagonal cells. The background is softly blurred.

What’s included?

  • Full course notes and reference materials

  • A look inside a working Kenyan top bar hive in the Bunbury area.

  • Plans to make your own Kenyan Top Bar Hive

  • A comprehensive list of beekeeping literature and resources

  • Refreshments including bread, butter, and raw honey

Adrian Iodice is pictured, carefully opening a wooden Kenyan Top Bar Hive. Bees are visible inside the hive and flying around the entrance. Adrian is preparing to inspect the hive.
Adrian Iodice is pictured, carefully opening a wooden Kenyan Top Bar Hive. Bees are visible inside the hive and flying around the entrance. Adrian is preparing to inspect the hive.
Photo of Adrian Iodice smiling at camera.

Bees have such a beautiful nature; it doesn’t take much to fall in love with them.

~ Adrian Iodice

Adrian Iodice

Adrian Iodice has a deep passion for natural sustainable bee care. He started beekeeping with standard conventional Langstroth hives and since 2010, he began experimenting with and studying various hive designs.

Adrian is one of the pioneers of the ‘Natural beekeeping’ movement in Australia. In 2012 he studied biodynamic beekeeping at ‘Mellifera Centre for Organic Beekeeping’ in Rosenfeld, southern Germany. He has come to the conclusion that the ‘Kenyan top bar hive’ is the better hive suited to his needs and he feels that every ‘backyard beekeeper’ should truly consider the hive design they will eventually use for the wellbeing of their bees.

He teaches natural, sustainable beekeeping workshops all over Australia.

The venue

Course Outline

In this backyard beekeeping course, you’ll start with an introduction to Adrian Iodice’s beekeeping journey and the sacred nature of bees.

You’ll explore the spiritual connection with bees and their crucial role in nature, focusing on sustainability and the health of bees through natural beekeeping practices.

The course covers various bee products, including honey, pollen, propolis, royal jelly, bee venom, and wax, detailing their uses and benefits.

The course then examines bee biology and behavior, covering worker bees, drones, queens, and swarming. You’ll learn how to manage queens and swarms, catch a swarm, and install it into a hive, highlighting a holistic beekeeping approach.

A key part of the course is the Kenyan Topbar Hive, where you’ll learn its history, setup, components, placement, and management. You’ll inspect a Kenyan Topbar Hive for hands-on experience and learn how to transfer bees from a Langstroth hive to a Kenyan Topbar Hive, promoting sustainable practices.

The course also covers practical beekeeping aspects, focusing on essential tools and safety measures. You’ll learn to harvest and process honeycomb and wax efficiently, ensuring you’re prepared to manage your hive sustainably.

Lastly, the course addresses common pests and diseases like Varroa mites, American foulbrood, and small hive beetle.

By understanding these challenges, you’ll be better equipped to maintain a healthy bee colony. This comprehensive outline ensures you gain a thorough understanding of natural beekeeping practices, fostering a deeper connection with your bees and promoting a sustainable and healthy environment.

FAQs

Bunbury, Western Australia

Beginner's Beekeeping CourseLearn Beekeeping the Natural Way

14th & 15th November

Read More

14th & 15th November

Saturday & Sunday
9:30am to 4.00pm each day
$470
One time payment
Bookings Closed.
See upcoming classes & courses
Limited to 20 people

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