Closeup of bees on honeycomb.

Bunbury, Western Australia

Introduction to BeekeepingLearn Natural Beekeeping with Kenyan Top Bar Hives

4th & 5th October

Read More

4th & 5th October

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 joy of natural beekeeping.

Learn the basics of sustainable and organic beekeeping for beginners.

This course offers a detailed introduction to natural beekeeping, highlighting the importance of sustainable practices. Adrian will guide you through the essential techniques needed to manage your hives effectively, fostering a deep connection to the bees and the environment while ensuring the health and productivity of your colonies.

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 joy of natural beekeeping.

Learn the basics of sustainable and organic beekeeping for beginners.

This course offers a detailed introduction to natural beekeeping, highlighting the importance of sustainable practices. Adrian will guide you through the essential techniques needed to manage your hives effectively, fostering a deep connection to the bees and the environment while ensuring the health and productivity of your colonies.

enrol now

This course is for you if:

  • You are new to beekeeping and seek to start your hive with confidence.

  • You have experience and wish to transition to organic beekeeping methods.

  • You desire a deeper appreciation for the complex lives of honey bees.

  • You aim to practice sustainable beekeeping that supports the environment.

  • 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 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?

  • In-depth course notes

  • A live Kenyan Top Bar beehive inspection in the Bunbury area.

  • Plans for making your own Kenyan Top Bar Hive

  • 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

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

Bunbury, Western Australia

Introduction to BeekeepingLearn Natural Beekeeping with Kenyan Top Bar Hives

4th & 5th October

Read More

4th & 5th October

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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