Sun shining through honeycomb. Several bees are silhouetted against the honeycomb.

Learn Natural BeekeepingA Weekend Workshop for Beginners

16th & 17th December

Experience the benefits of organic beekeeping.

Understand the principles of natural and sustainable beekeeping.

This course provides a comprehensive introduction to the principles of organic beekeeping. Adrian’s instruction covers essential techniques in hive management, swarm catching, and honey harvesting, helping you create a healthy environment for your bees while supporting broader ecological balance 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.

Experience the benefits of organic beekeeping.

Understand the principles of natural and sustainable beekeeping.

This course provides a comprehensive introduction to the principles of organic beekeeping. Adrian’s instruction covers essential techniques in hive management, swarm catching, and honey harvesting, helping you create a healthy environment for your bees while supporting broader ecological balance and sustainability.

enrol now

This course is for you if:

You are just starting out and need basic beekeeping knowledge.
You have prior knowledge and want to incorporate natural practices.
You wish to deepen your understanding and appreciation of honey bees.
You are focused on sustainable and eco-friendly beekeeping methods.
If you live in Melbourne, Dandenong, Frankston, Melton, Sunbury, Craigieburn, 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.

Discover

The development and lifecycle of honey bees within the hive.
The significance of natural honeycomb in sustainable beekeeping.
Effective swarm-catching methods and necessary tools.
Strategies for beehive placement to promote health and productivity.
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.

What’s included?

In-depth course notes
A look inside a working Kenyan top bar hive in the Melbourne area.
Plans for making 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.

Meet the facililtator

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

The Michael Centre Biodynamic Community Garden

37a Wellington Park Drive Warranwood Victoria 3134 Australia

The Michael Centre in Warranwood, established 25 years ago, offers anthroposophical courses, workshops, and community activities. It hosts the Melbourne Rudolf Steiner Seminar, a biodynamic garden, an anthroposophical library, and seasonal festivals, all in a bush setting.

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

Melbourne, Victoria

Learn Natural BeekeepingA Weekend Workshop for Beginners

16th & 17th December