Courses

This course is now fully booked. Not to worry! You can book into one of our future Natural Beekeeping Courses, or join the waiting list for this course by contacting us.

Join Tim Malfroy of Malfroy's Gold as he leads you through the basics of bee-friendly, natural, organic, small-scale beekeeping. You will leave this course with a competent knowledge of the fundamentals of natural beekeeping, and be ready to take the plunge and keep your own bees, Warré style!

The course will focus on a style of apiculture that is exclusively designed for the small-scale beekeeper.

This bee-friendly method aims to care for the bees, allow them to control their own environment, and is a gentler approach than conventional beekeeping, resulting in healthy contented bees, and superb raw honey. The beekeeper enters into a partnership with the bee colony, and from that responsibility reaps great insights and benefits.

The course will be a series of presentations that draw a wide perspective on the evolution of flowering plants and honeybees, and the long and rich tradition of apiculture. There will be open discussion, and loads of practical advice! Depending on weather conditions, we will also visit the Milkwood Warré apiary to be closer to the bees. Although this session may involve inspecting a hive or harvesting honey, the hallmark of this style of beekeeping is low-intervention; this is not a heavily ‘hands on’ course, although all discussion will be focused on the practicalities of keeping bees.

‘The knowledge of bees is the basis of the beekeeper’s success; and for all other people who, amidst the whirl of present-day technology, still prove to have a clear feeling for lively Nature, they are a source of joyful edification.’

Karl Von Frisch
The Dancing Bees 1927

Rather than limit the discussion to merely the role of the beekeeper and how to keep bees, Tim will talk extensively about the amazing social behavior and biology of the honeybee, giving you a solid grounding in the intricate world of the honeybee and how to approach keeping them in an ethical, sustainable manner.

You will learn the ins and outs of sustainable beekeeping in general, and leave this course all ready to take the plunge of keeping your own bees!

The course will focus on the The People’s Hive of Émile Warré, of which Tim is a pioneer in Australia. Tim is a second-generation beekeeper, growing up on a large apiary in the foothills of the Blue Mountains.

Topics include, but are not limited to:

* Evolution of the Honeybee and flowering plants
* History of Honey Hunting & Beekeeping
* The Sacred Bee in Ancient Civilizations
* Beehives throughout History   
* Beekeeping in Australia
* Honeybees: Understanding the Super Organism
* Biology of the Honeybee
* The Importance of Natural Comb
* The People’s Hive of Émile Warré
* Getting Set-Up for Beekeeping: Buying bees, hives & equipment
* Site and Forage Assessment     
* Forms required for keeping bees
* Situating beehives in urban areas - backyards + rooftops
* Handling bees gently and confidently
* Introducing your bees to the hive
* Ensuring the ongoing health of your colony
* Pests & Diseases
* Swarming
* Raw honey & comb harvesting techniques
* Honey appreciation
* Strategies for safe and successful beekeeping within a neighborhood
* Planting a Bee-friendly garden
* Native Bees

About the teacher

Tim Malfroy is the founder of the award-winning Malfroy’s Gold honey label with his wife Emma, and has been practicing organic and biodynamic beekeeping since he started keeping his own bees in 2006. In 2008 he was the first beekeeper in Australia to build and trial a Warré hive, and traveled to the Apimondia in France 2009 to take part in the first conference session on Warré and top-bar beekeeping. Tim is a second-generation beekeeper, growing up on a large apiary in the foothills of the Blue Mountains.

Included in your course

Your course fee includes comprehensive notes, copies of the necessary forms needed to become a beekeeper in NSW as well as our famous organic country catering for morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea during your course.

We will also be offering course participants the option of ordering their bees and hives direct from our teacher, only available to people who have done the course. At the end of the course you will be issued with a certificate of completion from Milkwood Permaculture.

This course is now fully booked. Not to worry! You can book into one of our future Natural Beekeeping Courses, or join the waiting list for this course by contacting us.

As part of our Fair Share policy, we provide pensioner, couples and unwaged discounts where needed. Please get in touch for more information.

Can't make these course dates? Have a look at our other upcoming natural beekeeping courses, held in Sydney and at Milkwood Farm near Mudgee.