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-Queanbeyan,

Natural Beekeeping WorkshopStart Your Own Hive with Confidence

9th & 10th March

Read More

9th & 10th March

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).

Begin your journey into natural beekeeping.

Learn the foundations of sustainable and bee-friendly practices.

Designed for beginners, this course covers everything you need to start your own hive with confidence. Adrian’s expert guidance will help you understand the basics of natural beekeeping, from bee development to hive management, setting you on the path to becoming a successful and responsible beekeeper.

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.

Begin your journey into natural beekeeping.

Learn the foundations of sustainable and bee-friendly practices.

Designed for beginners, this course covers everything you need to start your own hive with confidence. Adrian’s expert guidance will help you understand the basics of natural beekeeping, from bee development to hive management, setting you on the path to becoming a successful and responsible beekeeper.

enrol now

This course is for you if:

  • You are just beginning and wish to learn how to set up and maintain a hive.

  • You are an experienced apiarist looking to adopt more eco-friendly practices.

  • You want to immerse yourself in the wonders of bee communities and their importance.

  • You aim to adopt beekeeping techniques that are eco-friendly and sustainable.

  • If you live in Canberra-Queanbeyan, Yass, Goulburn, Bungendore, Murrumbateman, Braidwood, 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 and lifecycle of the honey bee organism (The Bee-ing) and their crucial roles in the hive.

  • The importance of natural honeycomb and its benefits for sustainable beekeeping and bee health.

  • How to catch a swarm effectively, including essential equipment for safe and successful swarm capturing.

  • Optimal beehive placement techniques to ensure the health and productivity of your bees.

  • The healing products provided by honey bees, including honey, propolis, beeswax, and their various uses.

  • Kenyan top bar hive management techniques for natural and efficient beekeeping practices.

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

  • An inspection inside a working Kenyan Top Bar beehive in the Canberra-Queanbeyan area.

  • Step-by-step instructions for a Kenyan Top Bar Hive

  • A comprehensive list of beekeeping literature and resources

  • 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

Canberra Region Beekeepers

Wetlands Apiary, 2 Dairy Road Fyshwick ACT 2609 Australia

Course Outline

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

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

The course explores the importance of natural beekeeping practices, emphasizing sustainability, harmony with the environment, and bee health.

Additionally, the course covers various bee products like honey, pollen, propolis, royal jelly, bee venom, and wax, explaining their uses and benefits.

Next, the course focuses on the biology and behavior of bees, discussing the development and roles of worker bees, drones, and queens. Swarming phenomena are addressed, including managing queens and swarms, catching a swarm, and installing it into a hive.

The course highlights the spiritual and ecological significance of these practices, reinforcing a holistic beekeeping approach.

A key part of the course is the Kenyan Topbar Hive. You will learn about its history, components, setup, placement, and management, including a thorough inspection of a Kenyan Topbar Hive for hands-on experience.

The course also covers transferring bees from a Langstroth hive to a Kenyan Topbar Hive, promoting sustainable practices.

Practical aspects of beekeeping are emphasized, focusing on essential tools and safety measures. You will learn how to harvest and process honeycomb and wax efficiently, ensuring you are equipped to manage your hive sustainably.

Finally, the course addresses managing common pests and diseases like the Varroa mite, 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

Canberra-Queanbeyan,

Natural Beekeeping WorkshopStart Your Own Hive with Confidence

9th & 10th March

Read More

9th & 10th March

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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