Closeup of bees on honeycomb.

Bellingen, New South Wales

Natural Beekeeping WorkshopFor Beginners and Experienced Beekeepers

17th & 18th April

Read More

17th & 18th 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).

Enhance your beekeeping knowledge.

Dive deeper into the principles of natural and organic beekeeping.

This course is ideal for experienced beekeepers looking to adopt more sustainable practices. Adrian’s teachings will provide you with advanced techniques in natural hive management, helping you optimize bee health and productivity while fostering a deeper connection to the environment and its intricate systems.

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.

Enhance your beekeeping knowledge.

Dive deeper into the principles of natural and organic beekeeping.

This course is ideal for experienced beekeepers looking to adopt more sustainable practices. Adrian’s teachings will provide you with advanced techniques in natural hive management, helping you optimize bee health and productivity while fostering a deeper connection to the environment and its intricate systems.

enrol now

This course is for you if:

  • You are a novice looking to build confidence in beekeeping.

  • You have experience and want to incorporate sustainable beekeeping methods.

  • You wish to explore the spiritual connection with bees.

  • You are focused on eco-friendly beekeeping practices.

  • If you live in Bellingen, Coffs Harbour, Dorrigo, Macksville 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?

  • Full course notes and reference materials

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

  • DIY plans for a Kenyan Top Bar Hive

  • List of essential beekeeping literature and digital content

  • Tea breaks with freshly baked 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

Course Outline

This beekeeping course begins with an introduction that shares Adrian Iodice’s personal journey into beekeeping and the sacred nature of bees.

You will understand the profound spiritual connection with bees and their vital role in nature.

The course explores the importance of adopting natural beekeeping practices, emphasizing sustainability, harmony with the environment, and the health of the bees themselves. Additionally, the course delves into various bee products, including honey, pollen, propolis, royal jelly, bee venom, and wax, explaining their uses and benefits.

Following this, the course focuses on the biology and behavior of bees, covering the development and roles of worker bees, drones, and queens. It also addresses the phenomena of swarming, including how to manage queens and swarms, catch a swarm, and install it into a hive.

The spiritual and ecological significance of these practices is highlighted, reinforcing the course’s commitment to a holistic approach to beekeeping.

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

The course includes a thorough inspection of a Kenyan Topbar Hive, providing you with hands-on experience and a deeper understanding of its unique benefits. This section also covers how to transfer bees from a Langstroth hive to a Kenyan Topbar Hive, further promoting sustainable beekeeping practices.

The course also emphasizes the practical aspects of beekeeping, focusing on essential tools and safety measures. You will learn how to harvest and process honeycomb and wax efficiently.

This practical knowledge ensures you are well-equipped to manage your hive responsibly and sustainably.

Finally, the course addresses the management of common pests and diseases such as the Varroa mite, American foulbrood, and small hive beetle. By understanding these challenges and how to address them, you will be better prepared to maintain a healthy and thriving bee colony.

This comprehensive outline ensures that you gain a thorough understanding of natural beekeeping practices, fostering a deeper connection with your bees and promoting a sustainable and healthy environment for them.

FAQs

Bellingen, New South Wales

Natural Beekeeping WorkshopFor Beginners and Experienced Beekeepers

17th & 18th April

Read More

17th & 18th 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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