Closeup of bees on honeycomb.

Shepparton-Mooroopna, Victoria

Introduction to BeekeepingLearn Natural Beekeeping with Kenyan Top Bar Hives

21st & 22nd October

Read More

21st & 22nd 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).

Start your sustainable beekeeping journey.

Gain essential knowledge in natural, organic beekeeping practices.

This comprehensive course covers the fundamentals of natural beekeeping, from understanding bee development to mastering hive management. Adrian’s expert guidance will equip you with the skills needed to start and maintain a healthy, thriving hive, all while supporting broader ecological health 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.

Start your sustainable beekeeping journey.

Gain essential knowledge in natural, organic beekeeping practices.

This comprehensive course covers the fundamentals of natural beekeeping, from understanding bee development to mastering hive management. Adrian’s expert guidance will equip you with the skills needed to start and maintain a healthy, thriving hive, all while supporting broader ecological health and sustainability.

enrol now

This course is for you if:

  • You are a novice looking to build confidence in managing your own bee colony.

  • You have been keeping bees for some time and want to learn advanced natural practices.

  • You are fascinated by bees and want to develop a profound appreciation for them.

  • You seek to implement beekeeping methods that promote environmental conservation.

  • If you live in Shepparton-Mooroopna, Tatura, Kyabram, Numurkah, Nathalia, Nagambie, 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 different stages of honey bee development and their roles.

  • The importance of maintaining natural honeycomb in hives.

  • How to effectively catch swarms and what equipment to use.

  • Best practices for placing your beehive for ideal conditions.

  • The healing benefits of honey bee products such as honey, propolis, and beeswax.

  • Effective Kenyan top bar hive management techniques to support 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?

  • Comprehensive course notes

  • A look inside a working Kenyan top bar hive in the Shepparton-Mooroopna area.

  • Instructions to create your own Kenyan Top Bar Hive

  • Recommended beekeeping literature, websites, and educational films

  • Morning & afternoon teas with homegrown 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

Shepparton-Mooroopna, Victoria

Introduction to BeekeepingLearn Natural Beekeeping with Kenyan Top Bar Hives

21st & 22nd October

Read More

21st & 22nd 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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