Closeup of bees on honeycomb.

Sydney, New South Wales

Introduction to BeekeepingA Two Day Course for Beginners

9th & 10th April

Read More

9th & 10th April

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).

Become a proficient natural beekeeper.

Discover the secrets of sustainable and organic beekeeping.

This course is perfect for beginners, providing a thorough grounding in natural beekeeping practices. Adrian’s expert instruction will help you understand the crucial aspects of bee development and hive management, ensuring you can create a thriving, healthy hive while supporting broader ecological 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.

Become a proficient natural beekeeper.

Discover the secrets of sustainable and organic beekeeping.

This course is perfect for beginners, providing a thorough grounding in natural beekeeping practices. Adrian’s expert instruction will help you understand the crucial aspects of bee development and hive management, ensuring you can create a thriving, healthy hive while supporting broader ecological sustainability.

enrol now

This course is for you if:

  • You are new to beekeeping and need guidance to get started.

  • You have experience and aim to enhance your skills with organic methods.

  • You are interested in the intricate lives and communal behaviors of bees.

  • You want to adopt eco-friendly beekeeping practices.

  • 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 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, and how to use them.

  • 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?

  • Detailed course materials and handouts

  • A hands-on beehive inspection of a Kenyan top bar hive in the Sydney area.

  • Instructions to create your own Kenyan Top Bar Hive

  • Recommended list of beekeeping books, websites, and educational films

  • 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

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

Learn natural beekeeping with this course, beginning with Adrian Iodice’s personal journey and the sacred nature of bees.

You’ll explore the spiritual connection with bees and their vital role in nature, emphasizing sustainability and harmony with the environment.

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

The next part of the course focuses on bee biology and behavior, covering the roles of worker bees, drones, and queens, and addressing swarming phenomena. You’ll learn how to manage queens and swarms, catch a swarm, and install it into a hive, reinforcing a holistic approach to beekeeping.

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

The course includes an inspection of a Kenyan Topbar Hive, giving you hands-on experience and a deeper understanding of its benefits. It also covers transferring bees from a Langstroth hive to a Kenyan Topbar Hive, promoting sustainable beekeeping practices.

The course 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, such as Varroa mites, American foulbrood, and small hive beetle.

By understanding these challenges, you’ll be better prepared 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

Sydney, New South Wales

Introduction to BeekeepingA Two Day Course for Beginners

9th & 10th April

Read More

9th & 10th April

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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