If there's one thing us locals know, it's that our little pastoral hills hold all kinds of sweet surprises. Just a hop and a skip from Hockinson Market sits yet another of these sweet treats known as Honey House Farms.

At the end of a short gravel driveway sits a seemingly unremarkable timeworn shop. And, as if you had found and old cottage in the woods, you might question whether or not you should go in…

But yes. Yes, you should.

Waiting on the other side of that old shop door, is a warm haven of all things good and sweet, including the heart and soul of Honey House Farms- Marge and Kristy. Kept at a nearly tropical temperature, this little shop is effectively geared for the melting of honey as well as the hearts of its patrons. Wall-to-wall golden hues showcase a formidable collection of bee-themed keepsakes along with every honey-related type of product one can imagine.

Marge and her late husband, Clarence, began their bee-keeping venture in the 90’s after the Columbus Day storm took out most of their big barn. And so, the old dairy farm began its transformation into a honeybee haven, housing over 200 hives at its height.

Marge is the first to admit that she was a somewhat skeptical assistant as her Midwest husband began building out the space for processing and storing honey. But for something that began as someone else’s thing, it is apparent that Marge fully embraced honey as her thing somewhere along the way. At this point, she has become an unexpected compendium of agricultural know-how. At one point I mentioned my newly discovered allergy to propolis. Unlike most people that stare at me blankly while I struggle to describe this resin made by bees, Marge delivered an off-the-cuff rundown on the origins, chemical makeup, and medicinal applications of propolis. Thanks to Marge, I finally understand how to stop breaking out in hives now.

While the strong foundation of Honey House Farms has been laid by Marge, its future rests on the shoulders of her right hand, Kristy. “I call her Queen Bee and she calls me her little Worker Bee,” Kristy shared, standing by Marge’s side, ironically towering over the tiny woman. But Kristy is clearly no drone. After spending many years as an educator, Kristy is no stranger to learning and teaching. She has spent the last few years at Honey House, not only absorbing Marge’s wealth of knowledge, but also enhancing their presence and expanding their reach. Guiding Marge into the age of farmer's markets and digital payments, Kristy has proven herself to be a worthy heir to the honey kingdom. 

Marge and Kristy have a lot to be proud of and it seems like they are just getting started. “The little Hockinson market is the first place I started selling my honey, but now my honey has travelled all over the world,” Marge shared, grinning with satisfaction. Now, with over ten wholesale accounts, they truly are busy little bees keeping up with all of the distribution. All in all, Honey House Farms is a rare breed of small venture that managed to endure past its prime, charging straight into an inevitable and glorious renaissance.