The Academy has four (4) areas of study our Worbees...
Read More
Home
Everything You Need to Know About Bee-Leaf
The Bee-Leaf Academy has a charter to provide training and education for people with life challenges, giving them opportunities for self-development and self-sufficiency, with a hands on, individualized approach.
delivery packages which will be tailored specifically to allow people who may ordinarily struggle to find gainful employment an opportunity to learn skills such as bee-keeping, horticulture, small business management (market stalls etc.) and civil construction which will enable them to not only generate a small income for themselves, but will also give them a community and support network to help to work through their life challenges.
OUR CORE BEE-LEAFS
OVERCOMING HURDLES
Forward progress is our main focus. It may take a long time to realise a dream but without moving in a forward direction, we can never overcome the hurdles and barriers in front of us.
HELPING
OTHERS
This is our most important Bee-LEAF. Regardless of your situation in life, their will ALWAYS be someone else that will benefit from your help, guidance or friendship.
COMMUNITY
INVOLVEMENT
The vast majority of people in the world share the BEE-LEAF that many hands make light work. We hold this to be a guiding principle on our road to self-reliance.
POSITIVE
ATTITUDES
Worry about the past and we tend to stay in the past. Accept the challenges life throws at you by working daily to create a better reality and your attitude becomes infectious.
About The Pillars
The Academy has 9 Pillars or Bee-Leafs, that metaphorically rest upon our foundation, Charity. The Pillars are our mantra for lack of a better word. We can all become better versions of ourselves by inwardly reflecting on the person we are now and make positive changes that improve the way we view ourselves, our family, friends and the community in which we live.
Human nature is such that many times we hold ourselves back or allow something or someone else to hold us back from gaining a feeling of self-worth and fulfilling our needs and dreams.
We all have basic needs, which are best described by Dr. Maslow in the mid 1900s. In his paper, “A Theory of Human Motivation”, he proposed the ‘Hierarchy of Needs”, a theory in psychology. Basically, our higher level needs are predicated upon lower level needs being met first.
Basic needs are things like air, water, food shelter, sleep, clothing and reproduction. If these are met, other higher order needs come into view, such as personal security, employment, resources, health, property.
If those are met then, friendship, intimacy and family. Higher still we need respect, self-esteem, status, recognition, strength and freedom. If all those are met, at the top of the pyramid is self-actualisation, the desire to become the most that one can be.
The vast majority of us have many if not all our basic needs met (air, water, food, shelter, clothing), but not everyone.
Through incremental improvement in attitude, knowledge, awareness and a willingness to become better, our participants progress through our tailored, practical training workshops, in the right frame of mind, all the while gaining an understanding or BEE-LEAF, that everyone in society can play a part to move the whole, forward.
We can, and will, work together to help everyone meet their needs but first it is important to look inwardly at yourself and see how you can assist this process. Our 9 pillars are a guide for personal growth.
BEE SELF-RELIANT
This is the primary goal of the Bee-Leaf Academy. Through a tailored training program that opts for a more hands-on approach to learning by leaving the classroom and participating in practical workshops, our WorBees (WorBee is what we call our members – short for Worker Bee) will gain a measure of self-reliance. They will learn how to construct a Bee Hive, Aquaponics Systems and a Micro-green grow space, in order to grow various vegetables and other plants as well as harvest honey. The WorBees will also learn how to start a small business so they can sell the products harvested and produced at local markets, specialty shops and even online.
BEE EMPOWERED
Being self-reliant goes a long way to becoming empowered. Generally, people fail to feel empowered because they are looking for key indicators from external sources. At the Academy we have a BEE-LEAF that empowerment comes largely from your own mindset. A positive attitude and outlook on life, become infectious which thereby creates a positive bubble around you. Likeminded people tend to flock together. Why not ensure you are surrounded with people with a positive outlook. Positivity leads to action and growth.
BEE COURAGEOUS
Fear of the unknown can be paralysing. Staying in our comfort zone is too easy. Not understanding that earning something, rather than being given it, adds greater value. Accepting these to BEE true is simple but what is hard is ensuring you face the possibility that you are afraid of something that might be holding you back. Face the possibility that getting out of your comfort zone will open doors to new adventures. Thinking that good things come to those who wait, may see you waiting a very, very long time. We want you to challenge these paradigms and break free of fear and doubt. Courage equals opportunities.
BEE DEPENDABLE
Dependability is a virtue. A bee hive couldn’t exist without each bee doing their part to ensure the survival of the whole. Failing to carry through with your responsibilities can become a habit, one that if not stopped, can lead to isolation. Any bee found not to be able to fulfil her responsibilities is removed from the hive. In our society that wouldn’t happen but if you can’t be relied upon you may find that your lose friends. On the other hand, if you are known to be extremely dependable, not only do you increase your self-worth, but you find that even more opportunities present themselves.
BEE SUPPORTIVE
Dependability is a virtue. A bee hive couldn’t exist without each bee doing their part to ensure the survival of the whole. Failing to carry through with your responsibilities can become a habit, one that if not stopped, can lead to isolation. Any bee found not to be able to fulfil her responsibilities is removed from the hive. In our society that wouldn’t happen but if you can’t be relied upon you may find that your lose friends. On the other hand, if you are known to be extremely dependable, not only do you increase your self-worth, but you find that even more opportunities present themselves.
BEE CONCERNED
We all have a desire to feel needed. Caring for others helps to develop empathy and the ability to connect with people, even in difficult times. Feeling valued and experiencing personal growth are two benefits to the act of caring. One act with both parties getting something out of it. Far too often do we think that what is happening elsewhere isn’t our problem. We can talk ourselves into believing that there is nothing we can do to make a difference or that it isn’t our problem. By being concerned for and about others, the other Pillars stand stronger.
BEE CONFIDENT
Knowing our limits is important but pushing beyond them with intent even more so. A positive mindset and clear goals are half the battle. Having a personal bee-leaf in your own abilities to learn and grow in order to achieve self-reliance is paramount to the foundation of the Academy. Through structured hands-on training in not only our two key areas, but in real life skills as well, our participants grow in their confidence in their abilities.
BEE ENABLED
We strive to provide our participants with knowledge and skills in Beekeeping and Horticulture, to enable them to help carve a path through life. Creating an atmosphere that encourages growth and provides support is only the beginning. We aim to instil in them a desire to overcome hurdles and knock down barriers, preparing them to take advantage of opportunities when they arise. At times life seems unfair, but we can prepare ourselves to handle all that it throws at us. You can build a Hive with tools, materials and knowledge.
BEE HELPFUL
The last Pillar is one of the most important, if not the most important. We encourage our participants to be supportive to others needs and desires. We believe that by helping others, we progress towards achieving our own higher-level needs. Our Worbees are asked to focus their support to achieve positive outcomes for all. Being helpful needs to be balanced so as not to be counterproductive or a hinderance. Many times, we may think we are being helpful when giving advice or assistance, but it is important to ensure we offer the right amount, type and duration of assistance to others. Don’t forget we all need each other’s help, but we are also on a path to self-reliance.
OUR PROGRAMME
Training
- Our courses
- Costs
- Durations
- Expected outcome
- Enrolment pathways (pre-requisites)
- Workshops
- Field trips
- Hands on practical approach
Volunteers
Alliance Partners
- Kobbleton Krafts
- NeoPonix
- Occupational Skills Centre Australia
Sister Hives
- Breakfast Club
- NeoPonix
- Occupational Skills Centre Australia
Donations and Fundraising
- Adopt a hive
- Sponsor a frame
- Adopt a queen
- Host a hive
Graduates
- For pics of our graduating classes
RECENT NEWS
What’s the fastest method?
The answer is………….. It depends on what you are growing....
Read MoreHOW CAN YOU HELP?
Are you interested in raising and learning about bees but don’t have the time? Are you allergic to bees and as a result, aren’t able to raise your own? Do you have a deep desire to help our little winged friends? Maybe you just aren’t allowed to keep bees where you currently live or just prefer to help out the bees in an easier, more hand-off approach.
We can help you help the bees in a number of ways, and at the BEE-LEAF ACADEMY we offer a variety of programs to meet your particular circumstance and preferences.
We predominately use Flow Hives at the Academy, for a couple of reasons. Firstly, because no bees are killed during the harvesting process, which can’t be said when using conventional bee hives. Secondly because we love to support Australian companies and the folks at Honeyflow.com are amazing people with an amazing story and an even more amazing product. If you haven’t heard of the Flow Hive, follow this link.
We offer a few options that will allow you to support the bee community and also support the Bee-Leaf Academy to achieve its goal – see below for more information.
Our Alliance Partners
"All of life is education and everybody is a teacher and everybody is forever a pupil."
Abraham Harold Maslow
circa 1940