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Beekeeping with MDBA

MDBA Beekeepers are a diverse group of people who live in an Oak Grassland biome. We experience different climate zones, temperatures and biodiversity of plant life. Our beekeepers have deep knowledge of honeybees, their life cycle, the environmental factors that can harm them, and know how to sustain healthy hives and apiaries. Over the years, we have learned from members who became Master Beekeepers through University programs, from scientific data driven studies, trial and error in our own hives, and from honeybees themselves.

We strive to support people who are interested in beekeeping with speakers at our General Meeting, by creating opportunities to connect new beekeepers with seasoned beekeepers through our new regional area cluster groups.

These small geographic based groups are one of the best ways to learn beekeeping, through hands on experience with other beekeepers.

Are You Thinking About Becoming A Beekeeper?


Come to a General Meeting and talk to beekeepers. We have a monthly meeting every 2nd Thursday of the Month, January through October. Check out the Calendar Page for details since it may be in person or on Zoom.


Beekeeping has a seasonal flow. Bees store honey in the late summer and fall. They reduce the size of the hive during the fall and winter and start building food stores and growing the hive in February. They spend Spring and Summer collecting pollen and honey and building a strong hive that will survive the next winter.


Starting a beehive in your back yard is usually a spring event. Beehives are growing fast, and there are bees available during early April.



A good plan would be:

  • Join MDBA the year prior to keeping bees. Spend time reading books about beekeeping, at MDBA meetings talk to beekeepers, gather information about where you would place a hive, and what equipment is needed. Buy a Bee jacket with a veil, and participate in the Cluster area hands on hive dives. Ask for advice from a mentor.
  • To acquire bees there are several options:  buy spring package bees, acquire a swarm, buy  a nuc, acquire a split.  If you are a member of MDBA we support all of these options.  

    New Member Signup

How Can You Help Honey Bees?

 Plant pollinator friendly flowering plants in your yard. These plants have flowers that provide pollen and nectar, two essential forage foods for honey bees. Not all flowers provide both pollen and nectar and some don't provide both without some water. And it is important that flowers are producing both pollen and nectar at different seasons. There are many plants that can meet these requirements, but not all may grow in different climate zones.



Here is a short list of plants that will grow well in Contra Costa County with some water.

Borage - Spring, early Summer

Lavender - Late Spring Summer

Thyme - Summer

Rosemary - Summer late Summer

Salvias - Summer late Summer Fall

Bottlebrush - Callistemon late summer Fall

Sweet Autumn Clematis - vine evergreen