Darcey Morgan Howard is a Save the Bee Board Member, food enthusiast, and advocate for sustainable practices. While her professional background in food and beverage marketing has led her to diverse roles, Darcey’s personal journey with Save the Bee stems from a deeply personal connection to traditional beekeeping through her father.
This blend of his legacy, love for the environment, and a drive to foster sustainability is what makes Darcey’s story so inspiring. Through her board membership with Save the Bee, she not only continues her father’s work but also broadens her own understanding of sustainability and pollinator health.
A Legacy of Gardening and Sustainability
Darcey’s upbringing, shaped by her father’s career in the Coast Guard, meant moving every few years. Yet, no matter where they lived, her father (a master beekeeper) always built a garden, cared for bees, and created a constant connection to the land. “He loved having his hands in the dirt,” she recalls. From an early age, Darcey learned the value of nurturing the earth and how, in return, the earth provides. This instilled a lasting appreciation for sustainability and conservation that would later guide her toward Save the Bee.
Her professional journey took her to New York City, where she encountered urban rooftop beekeeping in Brooklyn. Even in a bustling city, Darcey saw how small actions could support the environment. “It opened my eyes to the idea that no matter where you are, you can be doing something to help,” she reflects. This experience planted the seeds of what she now calls her “foray into being a bee-keeper,” albeit in a different, more communal sense.
Redefining the Role of a “Bee-Keeper”
Save the Bee aims to broaden the definition of what it means to be a “bee-keeper.” As Darcey explains, “Most people imagine a beekeeper in a white suit harvesting honey.” But at Save the Bee, a bee-keeper can be anyone with a personal interest in pollinator health. It could be someone growing bee-friendly plants in a backyard, choosing to buy organic, funding research or supporting local farmers.
For Darcey, being a Save the Bee Bee-Keeper means understanding the vital role pollinators play in the food system—1 in 3 bites of food we eat is thanks to pollinators like bees. “Honey is just a byproduct of what a bee’s purpose actually is,” she says, underscoring the bee’s primary role as a pollinator. This redefined perspective enables people, even those without hives, to see themselves as stewards of the environment, contributing to pollinator health in their own unique ways.
The Culinary Connection to Pollinators
An avid ingredient-driven home chef and community builder Darcey sees her culinary passion as a way to deepen her commitment to environmental stewardship. For her, cooking is more than just a hobby; it’s a way of connecting to the earth and community. By sourcing ingredients locally, she builds relationships with farmers and food producers, learning firsthand about the origins of her food and the environmental processes behind it.
“When I cook, I feel like I’m fulfilling the mission of Save the Bee,” she shares. Each meal tells a story—where each ingredient came from, who grew it, and how it reached her table. By sharing this awareness and these stories with family and friends, Darcey introduces them to the importance of food origins and the role that pollinators, like bees, play in our meals. “You’re eating the earth’s energy,” she says. “And that energy came through me to them.” This practice, she believes, aligns perfectly with Save the Bee’s mission and is one way she contributes to pollinator advocacy every day.
Finding Purpose in Community and Collaboration
Darcey’s work with Save the Bee extends beyond individual awareness. In her role as a board member, she fosters partnerships between Save the Bee and food and beverage companies, bridging the gap between brands and environmental stewardship. For example, her collaboration with Thinking Tree Spirits led to a unique bottled cocktail, the “Bee’s Knees,” which raises awareness of Save the Bee’s mission with every sip. Through these partnerships, brands can engage their employees and customers in a cause that is “undeniably delightful,” as Darcey describes it.
“Save the Bee provides a powerful opportunity for companies to differentiate themselves and genuinely support environmental health,” she says. In her view, brands involved with Save the Bee are making a tangible commitment to sustainability, which not only enriches their identity but also educates and engages their communities.
The Beehive as a Symbol of Unity
Bees are often celebrated as symbols of community and hard work. For Darcey, the hive’s cooperative nature and the role each bee plays in supporting the whole reflect her broader values around sustainability and social stewardship. “Being part of something bigger than yourself,” she says, “is what the hive represents.” This perspective reminds her of the need to come together, both as people and as environmental advocates, to achieve greater goals for pollinator health.
Darcey’s story highlights the many ways we can anyone can be a “bee-keeper”—through advocacy, education, and daily actions, big or small. Whether it’s planting bee-friendly flowers, supporting local food sources, or fostering environmental partnerships, she reminds us that even small steps can contribute to the health of the planet.
A Call to Action: Find Your Place in the Hive
Darcey’s journey with Save the Bee exemplifies how honoring a loved one’s legacy can spark a lifelong passion. Her advice? Find your place. “Whether you’re an engineer, a chef, or a teacher, pollinators play a role in your life,” she says. By recognizing the connections between bees and our daily lives, we can each make choices that support pollinator health and environmental stewardship. In this way, we all become part of something much bigger—one bee and one bite at a time.
