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Adrian Iodice

@beekeeping_naturally

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I teach ethical natural organic beekeeping in Kenyan top bar hives. LONG LIVE THE SWARM!

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Varroa is wiping out so many colonies of bees in many places in Australia.

And lots of people are noticing more native bees out and about.

Can they take over the role of the European bee in our ecosystem?

If we want to keep eating, then not really!" by @beekeeping_naturally

#wildbees #beesintrees #longlivetheswarm #savethebees #bees #happierbees #beehive #honeybees @thommos_community_garden @thommoscommunitygarden by @beekeeping_naturally

#wildbees #beesintrees #propolis #loghives #longlivetheswarm #savethebees #bees #happierbees #beehive #honeybees by @beekeeping_naturally

Bee therapy is wild you've gotta try it!

The sound of the bees is so soothing, and the smell is amazing- as close as you'll get to being in a hive.

Big thanks to Bev from Bev's Busy Bees for offering me this experience, if you're in WA you should definitely look her up and give her a visit. She makes some really nice honey products too.

#apitherapy #beetherapy #healingbees #longlivetheswarm #naturalbeekeeping by @beekeeping_naturally

Bees are very strategic about the plants they choose to collect pollen and nectar from.

And it's not always the plant with the most flowers that wins.

Lots of people are reporting that the bees are popping up now that the warmer weather has arrived- what plants do you see them most attracted to in your garden?

#pollinators #longlivetheswarm #naturalbeekeeping#pollen #nectar by @beekeeping_naturally

Swarm season is happening!

Great to see a whole lot of people out there catching swarms for their top bar hives.

Man these girls were really feisty. You don't see me in a full be suit very often but on this occasion it was essential. They've chilled out now that they've settled into their nice new home. 🐝🏡

#lomnglivetheswarm #naturalbeekeeping #swarmtrap #bees #topbarhive by @beekeeping_naturally

A beautiful art installation made by many of the Steiner school kids in Bega a few years ago. The theme is ‘What If….’ It’s hanging in Evolve Caffe in Bega NSW. Stop in and check it out sometime. #bega #art #begaart #beesart #beesandart #hexagons by @beekeeping_naturally

Now is the time to set up your Top Bar Hive in Australia!

Yes varroa is in many parts of Australia now. You might attract a swarm, and you might lose them.

Eventually though varroa resistant bees will emerge in Australia in the wild colonies. And a top bar hive will be a great place for them to make a home.

Thanks to Robyn from @pipmagazineau for inviting us to come and check out her hives, we made a bunch of great videos that day that we'll be sharing over the coming weeks.

#topbarhive #naturalbeekeeping #kenyantopbar #savethebees #treatmentfree by @beekeeping_naturally

I’m teaching a course here at @wavesfarm.mp on the Mornington Peninsula this weekend. Such a great venue to work from. Check it out! #naturalbeekeepingcourse #naturalbeekeeping #bees #beekeeping #longlivetheswarm #savethebees #happierbees #beehive #kenyantopbarhive #honeybees by @beekeeping_naturally

This beautiful old River Red Gum is in Bairnsdale Victoria Australia. It has a huge scar on it where the bark was cut out to make a large canoe many years ago. The scar is about 4m long. The other great thing about this old tree is that it has 5 bee colonies living in it! So I love stopping here whenever I head south to Victoria. Stop by sometime and say hello to the bees!! #bees #canoetree #scartree #bairnsdale #wildbees #wildbeetree #naturalbeekeeping #naturalbeekeeping #beesintrees #longlivetheswarm by @beekeeping_naturally

A commercial beekeeper rang me the other night complaining about natural beekeepers like Adrian and Robyn. Here’s what the facts actually show.
The resistant mites in South Australia didn’t come from a stationary hive. They came on trucks. Agriculture Victoria’s own line is that resistance spreads through the sale and movement of infested bees. A wingless mite crossed a continent in three years — not by flying, by being loaded onto a truck.
Duxton Bees brokered forty-four thousand hives for the 2026 almond season. Their own honey production came in at half forecast. The contracts put the risk on the beekeeper — dead or queenless hives count as zero, Varroa is written in as force majeure, and the beekeeper carries the insurance. The company takes the fee.
Meanwhile, wild colonies near Newcastle — where Varroa arrived about three years ago — have survived. Beekeepers are now breeding queens from that stock. Les Crowder and Nathalie B predicted resistance would emerge within three to five years. They may have been spot on.
Natural beekeepers aren’t the problem. They’re the experiment that might save the industry. The migratory model built the problem.
@beekeeping_naturally @pipmagazineau the bees will be back. by @beekeeping_naturally

Varroa got your bees? That sucks.

Should you try and get more? Definitely!

Wild bees with genetic resistance to Varroa have already started to show up in Australia. It may take some time, possibly years, but the bees will be back.

Thanks to Robyn from @pipmagazineau for inviting us to come and check out her hives, and stay tuned for the next video where we'll get her set up to catch a swarm.

#bees #varroa #longlivetheswarm #naturalbeekeeping by @beekeeping_naturally