WHAT WE DO
WHO WE ARE
Up With Bees was founded by longtime friends Daryn Cowan and Adam Abel, combining Daryn’s passion for beekeeping with Adam’s deep commitment to community service and leadership. As their conversations about nature and conservation grew, so did an idea—one that called for meaningful action.
We began noticing fewer pollinators in our local communities—fewer bees, butterflies, and birds. It was clear that something needed to be done. So, we launched Up With Bees, a nonprofit dedicated to raising awareness about habitat loss and restoring foraging areas for pollinators. Using bees as our vessel, we’re shining a light on the bigger picture: pollinator decline threatens the entire food chain, putting our local, national, and global food supply at risk.
Our long-term vision is to Re-Prairie Oklahoma, creating larger, healthier spaces where pollinators can thrive. Through partnerships with local and national organizations, we’re building sustainable habitats, supporting biodiversity, and advocating for a future where humans and nature coexist—a true hive mind mentality.
Join us in making a difference—one hive, one field, and one flower at a time.
OUR MISSION
Up With Bees places honey bee hives on vacant and commercially occupied urban lots or sites of your choosing, creating thriving bee farms (apiaries) that not only support honey bees but also benefit all pollinators. These hives help pollinate nearby food gardens, local trees, and plants while invigorating the community with a wide range of experiential learning opportunities.
We raise awareness and promote apiaries as a way to support entire pollinator ecosystems! By emphasizing the vital role of honey bees in improving food production yields, Up With Bees is also working to create safe, sustainable environments where all pollinators—bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects—can live, feed, and flourish.
As we work together to foster the growth and health of pollinators and communities, we invite you to share in all the benefits of bee farming while we take care of all the maintenance and work required to cultivate healthy colonies!