What you'll learn
Learn the basics of beekeeping and visit our rooftop hives with our home, garden & cooking short courses in Sydney!
Bees from city bee yards are said to be healthier and more productive than their country cousins. Their presence also provides cities with enormous environmental benefits as they pollinate a wide variety of native plants that otherwise may struggle in urban environments. Keeping bees is also a great way to nurture your own garden and produce wonderful fruit and veggies as well as producing your own delicious honey.
However, bees are under constant threat from urbanisation and the over-use of insecticide. Here in Australia, we are lucky to be the only country in the world with a healthy bee population, not affected by the deadly Varroa mite, and beekeepers across the nation are working hard to keep it that way. Get involved and find out how to keep bees in your own backyard.
This Beekeeping for Beginners course looks at the principles of backyard and urban beekeeping and gives students a basic knowledge of European Honeybees as well as our own native Australian bees.
The day includes an opportunity to put on the protective gear and see inside a working hive (weather permitting).
Included is a copy of "Bee AgSkills" (published by NSW Primary Industries).
Learning outcomes
By the end of this beekeeping course, you should be able to:
- Know about safety around the bee yard and the protective equipment available
- Understand the different methods of beekeeping
- Identify the different types of honeybees
- Understand the benefits of different types of beehive
- Locate and manage a beehive successfully
- Know the beekeeping regulations and registration requirements
- Harvest honey from your hive
- Identify various bee pests and diseases.
Course content
What will be covered in this beekeeping course?
- Why the sudden interest in bees?
- World problems - disease, mites and hive deaths
- Native bees
- European honeybees
- Bee biology
- Building healthy colonies, natural beekeeping, commercial beekeeping and urban beekeeping
- What goes on inside a hive
- Hive types - Langstroth, Warre and Kenyan hives - relative productivity and ease of maintenance
- Becoming a "beek" - regulations and personal commitment
- Getting started and the costs involved
- Healthy bees and how to maintain them
- Bee diseases
Intended audience
Who is this beekeeping course for?
This course is for anyone interested in urban beekeeping.
Please note: the classroom is accessible, but rooftop access is via stairs only.
Course venue
2A Gordon Street, Rozelle NSW 2039 (corner of Gordon St & Victoria Rd on the grounds of St. Joseph's Church)
Course materials
What to bring to class
If the weather is right, we will visit and open the rooftop hives. A protective jacket, veil and gloves will be provided, but please:
- Wear long pants and closed shoes
- Bring a device or pen & notepad for taking notes
Please note: rooftop hives are accessed via a narrow staircase (22 steps)
Course testimonials
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Dianne said: A ssmall engaged group with two teachers who are passionate about bees and generous with passing on their knowledge.
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Michael said: Great starter information and michael was very patient.
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Dylan said: Geoff was amazing - we learnt so much. Well structured course and a lot of fun, thank you.
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Sean said: Geoff presented engagingly and knowledgeably. The hands-on work combined with the theory and feedback to my questions was a great introduction and foundation for my bee keeping aspirations. You can only learn so much from books or videos, Geoff's course bridges that gap to give you the confidence and the knowledge to actually get started.
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Alicia said: This short course was AMAZING! Hands down one of the most informative classes I've ever been to - and the instruction I received made me feel confident and excited to continue my studies into beekeeping. Geoff was a personable and knowledgeable facilitator. He answered all of our questions, and his love/passion for bees really made the day fun. I HIGHLY recommend this course to anyone who is seriously considering beekeeping, and would even encourage "bee curious" students to attend, as the material covers biology, ecology, history, and practical application. Best part is donning the suit and inspecting the hives up close. Thank you for a great class SCC!
Course tutors
Geoff Begg
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<p>Learn the basics of beekeeping and visit our rooftop hives with our <a href="https://www.sydneycommunitycollege.edu.au/courses/home-garden-cooking">home, garden & cooking short courses</a> in
...<p>Learn the basics of beekeeping and visit our rooftop hives with our <a href="https://www.sydneycommunitycollege.edu.au/courses/home-garden-cooking">home, garden & cooking short courses</a> in
...If there isn't a class to suit you, please join our waitlist and we will notify you when we have places available. Join waitlist for Beekeeping Course for Beginners
If there isn't a class to suit you, please join our waitlist and we will notify you when we have places available. Join waitlist for Beekeeping Course for Beginners