Today we’d like to introduce you to Tanya Denny.
Hi Tanya, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
The Honey Hut’s legacy goes back further than its founding. Born and raised in Plymouth, Ryan Denny, one of our owners, had a dream since he was young of owning land. As a child, all he wanted was a farm of his own where he could soak up the peace and quiet of nature. Fast-forward to when Ryan married his better half, Tanya. Together, they chased their shared dream of owning a family farm.
Over the years, our little family grew by four— with our eldest son and triplets! It was then that we knew we wanted to raise them with the values we cherish. We wanted to show our kids what it means to put family and hard work first. So, we sought to finally purchase an undeveloped plot of land – the last active farm in Maple Grove.
However, we weren’t starting from scratch. The previous farm owner started their local honey business on the land. With phenomenal wildflowers, native plants, flowering shrubs, and trees, it was the perfect place for supporting pollinators. Rather than starting from scratch, we chose to continue its legacy and grow it into what it is today.
Since then, Honey Hut has continued to remain the last farm in Maple Grove, working diligently to deliver delicious, sweet products to our local customers.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely hasn’t been a completely smooth road, but every challenge has helped shape who we are today. We actually acquired The Honey Hut in the middle of COVID, which brought a lot of uncertainty right from the start. At the time, we both worked full-time jobs outside of the honey business, had four young children at home, and had never even tried beekeeping before. There was a steep learning curve, and many late nights spent figuring things out as we went.
One of the biggest challenges has been balancing family life, full-time careers, and growing a small business while still maintaining the quality and personal touch that make The Honey Hut special. We’ve also had to learn everything from beekeeping and honey production to, running markets and events. There have definitely been stressful moments, but the support from our community and seeing customers genuinely enjoy our products has made it incredibly rewarding
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
The Honey Hut is a woman-owned, family-run business specializing in RAW local honey and PURE maple syrup.
We are passionate about creating simple, high-quality products without preservatives or added sugars, while staying true to a farm-to-table approach and supporting our local community.
What truly sets us apart is that we operate on the last working farm in Maple Grove. The Honey Hut is also a multi-generational effort — not only involving our immediate family, but also my parents and uncle. Customers often see all of us working together when visiting our farm and running the business side by side – with our children (currently 10, 8, 8, 8) taking on bigger roles at Farmers Markets.
We are proud to have built a brand that feels authentic, pure, and family & community-focused.
Whether it’s our raw honey, raw creamed honey, maple syrup or gifts, we want customers to feel connected to the people and story behind what they are purchasing.
Above all, we want readers to know that The Honey Hut is about more than honey — it’s about honoring local farming traditions, supporting agriculture, and creating products that bring people together. It’s also about caring for and enjoying our beautiful 14.5-acre property, spending time in nature, and sharing that connection to the land and outdoors with our community and future generations.
How do you think about happiness?
What makes me happiest is being outside and enjoying the beauty of nature around us, with the people I love most. Whether it’s spending time on our property, working with the bees, or simply being outdoors with fresh air and open space, it brings a sense of peace and balance to our busy lives.
Most of all, though, my greatest joy comes from spending time with my husband, our four kids, and our dogs. Building The Honey Hut together as a family and creating memories while working side by side has been one of the most meaningful and fulfilling parts of this journey.
Pricing:
- Raw Creamed Honey: $10 – $15
- Raw Local Honey: $2-$34
- Pure Maple Syrup: $9-$16
Contact Info:
- Website: https://honeyhutmn.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/honeyhutmn/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HoneyHutMN
- Other: https://share.google/ovqts2PRYkZ8nJD2U
