The Buzz about Bees Workshop presented by Douglas Bee Farms

About this workshop

The Buzz about Bees – Douglas Bee Farms and Moerby Padsatal is a hands-on introduction to beekeeping, hive products and pollinator-friendly gardening, presented during the Love Dahlias Festival.

Douglas Bee Farms is one of the commercial beekeeping operations in the Douglas area. In this workshop you will learn how bees are managed in real life, what you need to consider if you want to keep bees yourself, what different hive products are used for, and how you can grow a pollinator’s paradise at home.

You’ll meet the beekeeper, see real equipment, and leave with a clear, honest picture of what beekeeping involves — plus a guided honey tasting to end the session on a sweet note.

About Douglas Bee Farms & Moerby Padstal

Douglas Bee Farms runs bees for honey and pollination in the Northern Cape and Free State. They work with hives in agricultural landscapes, orchards and around local farms, supplying honey and pollination services to the region.

For the Love Dahlias Festival, the workshop will be hosted at their location at Moerby Padstal, just outside Douglas. Moerby Padstal is an accessible, tourist-friendly stop and a great base to explain how bees fit into the wider farm landscape — from gardens to farms and everything in between.

What you will learn

In The Buzz about Bees workshop you will learn:

• Introduction to beekeeping
• How a hive works and what the queen, workers and drones each do
• What bees need to stay healthy (food sources, water, shelter)
• How modern beekeeping works
• How hives are set up and inspected
• Basic equipment: suits, smokers, tools and hive boxes
• Hive products and their uses
• Honey, beeswax, pollen and other hive products — and how they are used in daily life
• How honey can differ depending on forage plants and seasons
• Growing a pollinator’s paradise
• How to support bees and other pollinators with the right plants and simple garden habits
• Small changes that make a big difference in gardens, smallholdings and farms
• A guided tasting of honey and what to look for in flavor, colour and aroma

This is an introductory workshop. You will not be leaving as a qualified beekeeper, but you will have a much better understanding of whether beekeeping is for you and how to support bees in your own environment.

At a glance

• Event: The Buzz about Bees – Douglas Bee Farms and Moerby Padstal
• Host: Douglas Bee Farms
• Location: Moerby Padstal, near Douglas, Northern Cape, South Africa
• Format: Practical, introductory beekeeping workshop with demonstrations, equipment and honey tasting
• Skill level: Beginner friendly – no previous experience needed
• Ticket type: Workshop ticket for one person
• Includes: Honey tasting (6 varieties) + Pollinator-friendly flower seed pack

How it connects to Dahlias & Drinks River Cruise

This workshop is planned to finish at around 16:30, which lines up perfectly with Dahlias & Drinks River Cruise the same day.

If you want to make a full afternoon and evening of it, you can:

Attend The Buzz about Bees workshop at the Moerby Padstal

Head to Broadwater River Estate for Dahlias & Drinks River Cruise – a relaxed sunset cruise on the Vaal River

Stay on for dinner at Broadwater’s restaurant afterwards if you wish

The river cruise and restaurant dinner are not included in this workshop ticket.
They are separate bookings, but the timing is designed so they link together easily.

Who this workshop is for

This workshop is a good fit if you:

• Are curious about keeping bees in town, on a smallholding or on a farm
• Want a realistic picture of the work, costs and responsibilities involved
• Care about pollinators and want practical, local guidance on how to support them better
• Enjoy hands-on, real-world learning as part of your festival experience

You do not need any previous beekeeping experience. An interest in nature and a willingness to listen and learn are enough.

What’s included

Your The Buzz about Bees – Douglas Bee Farms (Moerby Padstal) ticket includes:

• Entry to the workshop with the Douglas Bee Farms team during the Love Dahlias Festival
• Demonstrations using real beekeeping equipment
• A guided explanation of how hives, tools and honey production work
• Hive products overview and practical uses
• Honey tasting (6 varieties)
• A pollinator-friendly flower seed pack to take home
• Any refreshments and detailed schedule information will be confirmed closer to the festival date.

What to bring

• Closed shoes (no open sandals)
• Comfortable clothes suitable for a farm/roadside setting
• A hat and sunscreen
• A notebook and pen if you like to take notes

Important ticket information

• This product is a workshop ticket, not a physical item.
• No parcel will be shipped and courier options at checkout do not apply.
• One ticket admits one person to this specific workshop at Moerby Padstal.
• Tickets are non-refundable, but you may transfer your ticket to another person if you can no longer attend.
• Full Festival Ticket Terms & Conditions apply.

After checkout you will receive:

1. An order confirmation email from Love Dahlias with your booking details.
2. A follow-up email closer to the festival with the exact time, detailed directions to Moerby Padstal, and any last notes on safety, clothing and what to expect.
3. Please use the same name and email address for all your festival bookings so we can keep your reservations together.