Backyard Beekeeping Basics Workshop

Workshop participants will now need to provide evidence of their full vaccination status or medical exemption in order to participate in on-site classes from 6 pm, 29th October. You will need to check in with our QR code and masks will need to be worn indoors. If you have a valid medical exemption, please get in touch asap. All CERES staff and contractors on site have met vaccination requirements.

Are you already started in beekeeping but want to know more? Maybe you are just looking to learn more about how to manage a beehive as part of your backyard garden or permaculture setup. This workshop provides you with an insight into the skills and experience required to safely and effectively manipulate a beehive and carrying out general management practices.

In addition to providing you with a broad understanding of the history and biology of a colony of European honey bees, at the end of the workshop participants will know what steps need to be taken to get started in beekeeping

The session runs for 2 hours and has plenty of time for questions and answers. Participants will leave with all the enthusiasm to get started as beekeepers.

Course content:

• Protective clothing and occupational health and safety
• History of beekeeping
• Types of beehives
• Beekeeping tools and equipment
• Rules and Regulations - how to be a good neighbour!
• Purchasing hives
• Biology of the honeybee
• Seasonal tasks and time commitment

Trainer bio

Benedict Hughes is a fully qualified trainer and a well-known registered Beekeeper. As 'The Practical Beekeeper' he collects swarms, manages hives, extracts honey, teaches and loves bees.

Benedict is a member of the Beekeeper State Quarantine Response Team with the Victorian Government (emergency beekeeper). He is the resident Beekeeper at Ceres Environment Park in Brunswick and is approved by the City of Darebin to keep bees in Darebin Parklands and Bundoora Park Farm. 

Benedict regularly runs sessions about bees and about backyard beekeeping for kids and adults. He can be found on Facebook and Instagram as “PracticalBeekeeper"