Closeup of bees on honeycomb.

Bermagui, New South Wales

Natural Beekeeping CourseStart Your Own Hive with Confidence

3rd & 4th October

Read More

3rd & 4th 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).

Learn from a beekeeping expert.

Gain insights and skills from Adrian, a master in natural beekeeping.

This course offers a unique blend of practical and spiritual beekeeping knowledge. Adrian’s intimate understanding of bees and their complex communities will guide you through the fundamentals of natural beekeeping, helping you develop a sustainable practice that prioritizes bee health and ecological harmony.

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 from a beekeeping expert.

Gain insights and skills from Adrian, a master in natural beekeeping.

This course offers a unique blend of practical and spiritual beekeeping knowledge. Adrian’s intimate understanding of bees and their complex communities will guide you through the fundamentals of natural beekeeping, helping you develop a sustainable practice that prioritizes bee health and ecological harmony.

enrol now

This course is for you if:

  • You are a beginner wanting to understand the basics of beekeeping.

  • You are knowledgeable in beekeeping and wish to expand your skills with natural methods.

  • You aim to foster a stronger connection to bees and their natural environment.

  • You wish to contribute to environmental sustainability through natural beekeeping.

  • If you live in Bermagui, Narooma, Cobargo, Tilba Tilba 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 developmental stages of bees and their roles in the hive.

  • The advantages of using natural honeycomb in beekeeping.

  • Detailed steps for swarm catching and the gear required.

  • Placement tips for beehives to ensure maximum health and output.

  • 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?

  • Thorough course materials and guides

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

  • Plans for making your own Kenyan Top Bar Hive

  • Extensive beekeeping reading and resource list

  • Tea time with homemade bread, creamy 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

Bimbimbi House

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

Bermagui, New South Wales

Natural Beekeeping CourseStart Your Own Hive with Confidence

3rd & 4th October

Read More

3rd & 4th October

Saturday & Sunday
9:30am to 4.00pm each day
$470
One time payment
Bookings Closed.
See upcoming classes & courses
Limited to 20 people

Stay connected...

Sign up and we’ll keep you up-to-date with the latest beekeeping news.