People in white bee suits, standing around Adrian Iodice, the instructor, who is showing them honeycomb built on a top-bar of a Kenyan Top Bar Hive.

Canberra, ACT

Natural BeekeepingLearn Beekeeping the Natural Way

24th & 25th September

Read More

24th & 25th September

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).

Learn the art of natural beekeeping.

Gain insights into sustainable beekeeping practices for beginners.

This beginner course offers a thorough grounding in natural beekeeping techniques. Adrian’s expert instruction will help you understand the crucial aspects of bee development, hive management, and ecological sustainability, ensuring you can create a thriving, healthy hive while supporting broader environmental health.

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.

Learn the art of natural beekeeping.

Gain insights into sustainable beekeeping practices for beginners.

This beginner course offers a thorough grounding in natural beekeeping techniques. Adrian’s expert instruction will help you understand the crucial aspects of bee development, hive management, and ecological sustainability, ensuring you can create a thriving, healthy hive while supporting broader environmental health.

enrol now

This course is for you if:

  • You are a novice interested in learning beekeeping from experts.

  • You are experienced and want to enhance your skills with natural beekeeping.

  • You are curious about the lives and communal systems of bees.

  • You want to adopt sustainable practices that support bee health.

  • If you live in Canberra, Queanbeyan, Yass, Goulburn, Bungendore 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 growth stages of honey bees and their role in the hive.

  • Why natural honeycomb is crucial for thriving bee colonies.

  • Step-by-step process for catching swarms and the required tools.

  • How to place your beehive for maximum bee activity and health.

  • The various health benefits of products provided by honey bees.

  • Techniques for efficient Kenyan top bar hive management.

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?

  • Complete set of course notes

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

  • Step-by-step plans to build your own Kenyan Top Bar Hive

  • An extensive list of recommended beekeeping books, websites, and films

  • Homemade morning and afternoon teas with 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

Canberra Region Beekeepers

Wetlands Apiary, 2 Dairy Road Fyshwick ACT 2609 Australia

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

Canberra, ACT

Natural BeekeepingLearn Beekeeping the Natural Way

24th & 25th September

Read More

24th & 25th September

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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