People in white bee suits, standing around Adrian Iodice, the instructor, who is showing them honeycomb built on a top-bar of a Kenyan Top Bar Hive.

Sydney, New South Wales

Beginner's Beekeeping CourseStart Your Own Hive with Confidence

20th & 21st September

Read More

20th & 21st September

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 wonder of natural beekeeping.

Discover the beauty and complexity of bee communities.

Adrian’s course offers a unique blend of practical beekeeping skills and a deep appreciation for the natural world. You’ll learn how to manage your hives in a way that supports bee health and productivity, all while fostering a profound connection to the environment and its delicate balance.

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 wonder of natural beekeeping.

Discover the beauty and complexity of bee communities.

Adrian’s course offers a unique blend of practical beekeeping skills and a deep appreciation for the natural world. You’ll learn how to manage your hives in a way that supports bee health and productivity, all while fostering a profound connection to the environment and its delicate balance.

enrol now

This course is for you if:

  • You are a beginner seeking to start your beekeeping journey with confidence.

  • You have beekeeping experience and wish to practice natural beekeeping.

  • You are passionate about connecting with and appreciating bees.

  • You aim to support environmental health through sustainable beekeeping.

  • If you live in Sydney, Parramatta, Blacktown, Penrith, Liverpool, Bankstown, 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 stages of honey bee development and their significance in hive life.

  • The benefits of using natural honeycomb in your hives.

  • Detailed steps on how to catch a swarm and the essential tools.

  • Where to place your hive for optimal productivity.

  • The therapeutic products from honey bees like honey and propolis.

  • Kenyan top bar hive management strategies for natural 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 live Kenyan Top Bar beehive inspection in the Sydney area.

  • Plans to build your own Kenyan Top Bar Hive (Les Crowder version)

  • Recommended beekeeping reading list and online resources

  • Refreshments including homemade 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

Permaculture Sydney Institute

Bandusia Country Retreat Upper Macdonald Road Upper Macdonald NSW 2775 Australia

Permaculture Sydney Institute is Sydney’s leading Permaculture and sustainable learning centre.

It provides cutting edge permaculture courses, workshops, inspirational experiences and quality information and training.

Permaculture Sydney Institute engages only experienced, professional and accredited educators and specialists in their field and is committed to high standards of training and outcomes.

Course Outline

This backyard beekeeping course starts with Adrian Iodice’s personal journey into beekeeping and the sacred nature of bees.

You’ll explore the spiritual connection with bees and their vital role in nature, highlighting the importance of natural beekeeping practices for sustainability and bee health.

The course delves into various bee products, including honey, pollen, propolis, royal jelly, bee venom, and wax, explaining their uses and benefits.

Following this, the course focuses on bee biology and behavior, discussing worker bees, drones, queens, and swarming. You’ll learn how to manage queens and swarms, catch a swarm, and install it into a hive, emphasizing a holistic approach to beekeeping.

A significant part of the course is dedicated to the Kenyan Topbar Hive. You’ll learn about its history, components, setup, placement, and management.

The course includes an inspection of a Kenyan Topbar Hive for hands-on experience and covers transferring bees from a Langstroth hive to a Kenyan Topbar Hive, promoting sustainable practices.

The course also emphasizes practical aspects of beekeeping, focusing on essential tools and safety measures. You’ll learn how to harvest and process honeycomb and wax efficiently. Finally, the course addresses managing 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 and thriving 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 environment.

FAQs

Sydney, New South Wales

Beginner's Beekeeping CourseStart Your Own Hive with Confidence

20th & 21st September

Read More

20th & 21st September

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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