Meet the Bees

At the Firthside Apiary, we run 'Meet the Bees' sessions. Experience the wonder of bees, opening a hive, and observing the complex colony. This is a great opportunity for deciding if beekeeping is for you. Get together a group sharing the experience with friends and family.  The session provides a honey tasting and discussion. Courses are weather dependent to suit the bees.  All sessions have suits and gloves supplied. The classes are limited to small numbers. $65 for 1.5 hour session    The Firthside Apiary, Kingston      Bookings essential.

Beginner Bees

Want to get started in beekeeping? Beginner Bees provides a mix of theory and practice to help you choose the best beekeeping style for you and your bees. These classes are in high demand so book as early as possible to secure your place. Learn where to locate the hive, inspect it, and how to work positively with the bees. Learn the essentials to ensure your bees stay alive and thrive through the seasons. Winter Beg Bees classes are a perfect time to get started on your journey online before Spring. You will be able to decide on a hive type, have it set up for bees by August/September, complete a practical session at the hive by Oct/November and have bees as early as possible. The Firthside Apiary, Kingston   $290.00

  • Beg Bees Saturday 10 February 2024 9.30-4.30pm (sold out)

2024/25 SEASON

  • July Beg Bees Sat 20 & Sat 27 July 2024 9.30-11.30a, online session (12 places)

  • Aug Beg Bees Sat 10 & Sat 17 Aug 2023 9.30=11-30a, online session (12 places)

  • Practical Session for Winter Bee participants Friday 25 Oct or Sat 26 October 10.30-12.30

  • Beg Bees Friday 18 October 2024 9.30-4.30pm (7 places)

  • Beg Bees Saturday 19 October 2024 9.30-4.30pm (7 places)

  • Beg Bees Friday 1 November 2024 9.30-4.30pm (7 places)

  • Beg Bees Saturday 2 November 2024 9.30-4.30pm (5 places)

  • Beg Bees Friday 15 November 2024 9.30-4.30pm (5 places)

  • Beg Bees Saturday 16 November 2024 9.30-4.30pm (5 places)

  • Beg Bees Friday 29 November 2024 9.30-4.30pm (5 places)

  • Beg Bees Saturday 30 November 2024 9.30-4.30pm (5 places)

  • classes will start again in Winter 2025

 > book me in at our Shop

Intermediate and Advanced Classes

These short courses are for those that have completed a Beginner Bees Course and want further learning to boost their confidence in working with their bees. This season the courses will be online.

Advanced Bee: This 2 hour session will look at colony construction, how it appears on frames, how to read the colony from what is seen on frames, spring maintenance, brood inspections, time for discussion, and much more. $60

Saturday 21 September 2024 10-12N Book an online place

MASTERCLASS on SWARMING where I will teach everything I know about swarming and its related topics. Recognise swarming potential from hive observation, the swarming process, examining hives for behaviour and disease, collection and hiving. This online class is designed to ensure you are ready for the swarming season, to protect your colonies from depletion and encourage healthy queen succession. $60

. This class will not run in 2024 2.5hrs Book an online place - enrollment now closed

Natural Queens : For those that have more experience with bees, we explore how to create natural queens using a number of methods. Topics will include natural reproduction, choosing colonies for good genetics, raising queens with minimal impact, splitting and caring for nucleus colonies. $80

. Saturday 23 November 2024 10-12N Book a place

Layens/Luzutin Hive Field Days

Practical Session at the Layens Hive : Here is a chance for any Layens Larrikins or those interested in this hive to come and visit for a hive opening.. Explore the benefits of this hive for our Tasmanian conditions. $50

. L3 Saturday 18 February 2023 10-12N @ Forth NW Tasmania Bookings Essential limited places $30 (sold out) Book Here

.L4 Sunday 26 February 2023 10-12N @ Firthside Apiary Southern Tas Bookings Essential $50 (sold out) Book Here

Learn to Build a Warre Hive

The Warre or people's hive is excellent for natural beekeeping practice. It is easily built and provides an attractive hive in your garden. The hive is becoming increasingly popular and this course introduces you to the principles of the hive, explores how it is managed as a beekeeper, its construction, considerations for the cool Tasmanian climate and some hands on experience in building the hive. The course includes a hive box you get to keep. Plans provided. Carpentry experience is not necessary. Classes at The Firthside Apiary.

  • W24 Saturday 26 June 2021 10.00 - 12N

  • more course dates to follow

Bookings essential. Limited to 4 participants. $150

>book me in at our shop