Closeup of bees on honeycomb.

Rockhampton, Queensland

Natural Beekeeping CourseStart Your Own Hive with Confidence

16th & 17th March

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16th & 17th 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).

Become an expert in natural beekeeping.

Discover the fundamentals of sustainable, organic beekeeping.

This course is perfect for beginners looking to adopt natural beekeeping practices. Adrian’s instruction covers essential techniques in hive management, swarm catching, and natural comb building, helping you create a healthy environment for your bees while supporting broader ecological balance and sustainability.

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.

Become an expert in natural beekeeping.

Discover the fundamentals of sustainable, organic beekeeping.

This course is perfect for beginners looking to adopt natural beekeeping practices. Adrian’s instruction covers essential techniques in hive management, swarm catching, and natural comb building, helping you create a healthy environment for your bees while supporting broader ecological balance and sustainability.

enrol now

This course is for you if:

  • You are new to beekeeping and want to start your own hive with confidence.

  • You are experienced and seek to transition to natural beekeeping methods.

  • You wish to deepen your connection with bees and nature.

  • You are focused on sustainable beekeeping practices that support the environment.

  • If you live in Rockhampton, Yeppoon, Emu Park, Gracemere, Mount Morgan, Capricorn Coast, 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 lifecycle of honey bees and their development stages.

  • The importance of natural honeycomb in supporting healthy hives.

  • How to catch swarms effectively and the tools required.

  • Best practices for positioning your hive for maximum productivity.

  • The health benefits of honey bee products such as honey and propolis.

  • Kenyan top bar hive management techniques for efficient 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?

  • Complete training materials

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

  • Step-by-step guide to constructing a Kenyan Top Bar Hive

  • Extensive list of recommended beekeeping reading and online resources

  • Refreshments with homemade 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.
Beautiful location, lovely people, important information.
shelley zimmerman
Katoomba, 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 beekeeping course begins with an introduction to Adrian Iodice’s personal journey and the sacred nature of bees.

You’ll explore the profound spiritual connection with bees and their essential role in nature, highlighting the importance of natural beekeeping practices for sustainability and bee health.

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

Following this, the course delves into bee biology and behavior, discussing the development and 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, with a holistic beekeeping approach.

A major part of the course is dedicated to the Kenyan Topbar Hive. You’ll learn about 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 also 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 like Varroa mites, American foulbrood, and small hive beetle. By understanding these challenges, you’ll be better prepared 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

Awesome. Very positive message by Adrian and encouraging engagement and interaction from everyone improved the course. Thanks
Craig Rowley
Margaret River, Western Australia

Rockhampton, Queensland

Natural Beekeeping CourseStart Your Own Hive with Confidence

16th & 17th March

Read More

16th & 17th 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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