Shepparton-Mooroopna, Victoria

Natural Beekeeping CourseExplore sustainable, organic beekeeping

24th & 25th August

Read More

24th & 25th August

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).

Deepen your understanding of bees and beekeeping.

Discover the principles of natural and sustainable beekeeping.

This course offers a unique blend of practical beekeeping skills and a deep appreciation for the natural world. Adrian’s instruction will help you manage your hives in a way that supports bee health and productivity, fostering a profound connection to the environment and its delicate balance.

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.

Deepen your understanding of bees and beekeeping.

Discover the principles of natural and sustainable beekeeping.

This course offers a unique blend of practical beekeeping skills and a deep appreciation for the natural world. Adrian’s instruction will help you manage your hives in a way that supports bee health and productivity, fostering a profound connection to the environment and its delicate balance.

enrol now

This course is for you if:

  • You are new to beekeeping and need foundational knowledge.

  • You are experienced and seek to refine your natural beekeeping practices.

  • You want to connect deeply with bees and their natural environment.

  • You are committed to environmentally sustainable beekeeping practices.

  • 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 phases of honey bee development and their roles in the hive.

  • The advantages of natural honeycomb for sustainable beekeeping.

  • Techniques for successful swarm capturing and necessary equipment.

  • Optimal hive placement to enhance bee health and honey production.

  • Healing products from honey bees and their various uses.

  • Managing Kenyan top bar hives naturally and effectively.

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 notes and guides

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

  • Plans to build your own Kenyan Top Bar Hive (Les Crowder version)

  • Suggested beekeeping reading materials, websites, and films

  • Morning & afternoon tea with artisanal 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.
The course presentation was just brilliant and I loved meeting friendly like-minded people. Very satisfied with the whole weekend.
Ian Pine
Emerald Hill, New South Wales

Meet the facililtator

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

This beginner beekeepers course starts with an introduction to Adrian Iodice’s personal journey into beekeeping and the sacred nature of bees.

You’ll learn about the spiritual connection with bees and their vital role in nature, emphasizing natural beekeeping practices for sustainability and bee health.

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

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

A major component of the course is the Kenyan Topbar Hive, where you’ll learn its history, components, setup, placement, and management.

The course includes an inspection of a Kenyan Topbar Hive for hands-on experience and covers transferring bees from a Langstroth hive to a Kenyan Topbar Hive, promoting sustainable 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, ensuring you’re equipped to manage your hive responsibly.

Finally, the course addresses managing common pests and diseases like Varroa mites, American foulbrood, and small hive beetle. Understanding these challenges prepares you to maintain a healthy and thriving 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 environment.

FAQs

Absolutely everything I could have hoped for and more. Great content, discussion, demonstration, and opportunity for hands on experience, with a great teacher, host & friendly group of participants. Thank you so much!
Elinor Cuttiford
Millgrove, Victoria

Shepparton-Mooroopna, Victoria

Natural Beekeeping CourseExplore sustainable, organic beekeeping

24th & 25th August

Read More

24th & 25th August

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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