Bendigo, Victoria

Introduction to BeekeepingA Two Day Course for Beginners

9th & 10th August

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9th & 10th August

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).

Start your natural beekeeping adventure.

Learn the essential techniques of bee-centric beekeeping.

This hands-on course will provide you with the skills needed to start and maintain a healthy hive. From understanding bee development stages to mastering Kenyan top bar hive management, you’ll be equipped with the knowledge to become a successful natural beekeeper.

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.

Start your natural beekeeping adventure.

Learn the essential techniques of bee-centric beekeeping.

This hands-on course will provide you with the skills needed to start and maintain a healthy hive. From understanding bee development stages to mastering Kenyan top bar hive management, you’ll be equipped with the knowledge to become a successful natural beekeeper.

enrol now

This course is for you if:

  • You are new to beekeeping and want to learn essential skills.

  • You are an experienced beekeeper looking to improve your organic practices.

  • You wish to appreciate and connect with the miraculous lives of bees.

  • You are dedicated to sustainable beekeeping that supports bee health and the environment.

  • If you live in Bendigo, Kangaroo Flat, Eaglehawk, Castlemaine, Heathcote, Kyneton, 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 lifecycle of honey bees and their developmental stages in the hive.

  • The significance of natural honeycomb for bee health and sustainability.

  • Effective techniques for swarm catching and the equipment needed.

  • Best locations for placing your beehive for optimal results.

  • The healing uses of honey bee products like honey, propolis, and beeswax.

  • Management practices for Kenyan top bar hives 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?

  • In-depth course notes

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

  • DIY plans for your own Kenyan Top Bar Hive

  • Extensive beekeeping reading and resource list

  • 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.
Excellent workshop. Learned so much about bees and beekeeping.
Philip Wong
Wanguri, Northern Territory

Meet the facililtator

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

This backyard beekeeping course starts with an introduction to Adrian Iodice’s beekeeping journey and the sacred nature of bees.

You’ll understand the spiritual connection with bees and their critical role in nature, emphasizing natural beekeeping practices for sustainability and bee health.

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, discussing the development and roles of worker bees, drones, and queens, and addressing swarming.

You’ll learn how to manage queens and swarms, catch a swarm, and install it into a hive, promoting a holistic beekeeping approach.

A key 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.

Practical aspects of beekeeping are also covered, focusing on essential tools and safety measures. You’ll learn to harvest and process honeycomb and wax efficiently, ensuring you’re equipped to manage your hive responsibly.

Lastly, the course addresses managing common pests and diseases like Varroa mites, American foulbrood, and small hive beetle. Understanding these challenges helps you 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 environment.

FAQs

I had a wonderful day. The course was not only about building a bee hive, but building confidence in ability and building collaboration. Thank you
Brigit
Brogo, New South Wales

Bendigo, Victoria

Introduction to BeekeepingA Two Day Course for Beginners

9th & 10th August

Read More

9th & 10th August

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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