At a glance

Hands-on, 2 days at The Bower (Summer Hill).
Build your own OATH-compatible hive from reclaimed timber.
Learn to site, care for, move and propagate a stingless bee colony.
Join the Bower Bee Co-op: foster a hive and return annually for a supervised split that trains the next cohort.
No experience needed. Adults 18+.

· First session Sat Oct 11t, 10am-3pm

· Second session Sat Oct 25th, 10am-3pm

Why this workshop?

European honey bees are under pressure (e.g., varroa mite). Our native stingless bees (e.g., Tetragonula, Austroplebeia) don’t sting, need almost no maintenance, and are brilliant local pollinators for balconies and gardens. This workshop grows community knowledge and hive numbers—ethically, safely, and sustainably.

What you’ll do

Day 1: Foundations + Build

Meet the bees: species, roles, life cycle, and why native bees matter.
Pick the best spot: aspect, shade, heat and ant protection, forage planning.
Build an OATH-compatible hive from reclaimed timber using jigs (brood/store layers, base, lid, vents, weatherproofing).
Label and finish your hive (exterior only); take it home to cure.

Day 2: Behaviour, Propagation & Split (conditions permitting)

Recap and troubleshoot your installation plan.
Understand colony growth, swarming/budding, and when to split.
Supervised split demonstration using a training colony to create two viable hives.
- Tiny honey tasting happens during the split only. Routine harvesting in Sydney is not recommended.
Records and next steps: install checklist, monitoring, co-op support.

What you’ll learn

Identify native stingless bees and read brood/food structures.
Choose safe hive locations and manage heat/ants.
Move and transport a hive with minimal stress.
When and how to use splitting vs eduction to propagate.
Responsible honey guidance for Sydney conditions.
Simple record-keeping and community data sharing.

What you’ll take home

Your hand-built reclaimed-timber hive (OATH-compatible).
Co-op handbook, install checklist, basic ant-guard kit.
Membership in the Bower Bee Co-op and your annual split date.

Bee allocation is coordinated by The Bower. Timing of bees into participant boxes depends on season/colony readiness.

Bower Bee Co-op (how it works)

By joining, you agree to:

Foster a hive at your address and return it annually to The Bower for a supervised split & training event; you receive your hive back after the workshop.
Provide basic care (placement, shade/heat, ant control) and avoid routine honey harvest.
Log simple observations and let us know before moving your hive.
Follow NSW biosecurity guidance and ethical sourcing.

We provide training, the handbook, basic kit, ongoing advice, and the annual split day.

What’s included

All tools, jigs, reclaimed timber and fixings for the hive build.
Training hive(s) for demonstrations.
Co-op handbook & templates (records, install, monitoring).

What to bring

Closed-toe shoes, comfortable clothing (outdoor portion), water bottle.
Photos/video of your intended install spot (shade/aspect/nearby plants).

FAQs

Do stingless bees sting?
No—stingless bees can “nip,” but they don’t sting.

Will I take bees home?
You’ll definitely take home the hive you built. Bee placement into participant boxes is managed by The Bower and depends on day and colony readiness.

Can I harvest honey?
Not recommended in Sydney. You’ll have a tiny taste during a supervised split only.

How much space do I need?
A small balcony or garden with dappled light/shade and some flowering plants is ideal.

Is there much maintenance?
Very little—site choice and heat/ant management do most of the work.