After spending time in natural spaces, it's clear those connections don't end when the trail does.

For some nature becomes inspiration.

You can practically taste.

In tonight's "Meet your Neighbor" segment, we introduce you to Marshallene Iris, who's turning the flavors of her home island of Bermuda, into handcrafted jams.

♪ I have always wanted to have a neighbor just like you ♪ ♪ I've always wanted to live in a neighborhood with you ♪ ♪ So would you be mine, could you be mine ♪ ♪ Won't you be my neighbor ♪ Hi, neighbor.

(bright music) - [Dara] Aah, it's that time of year again.

Spring is in the air.

The flowers have blossomed.

And local strawberries are ready for picking.

- We are in a strawberry patch.

And this is where I come to get my strawberries every year.

- [Dara] Which means, it's time for Marshallene Iris to grab her wagon and roll back out to her favorite strawberry patch in Midland, Dear Run Farm.

- It's a beautiful day.

Nothing like strawberries, fresh.

- [Dara] Marshallene doesn't choose just any old strawberries when she's out here.

- I go through 'em.

I don't pick 'em all because if they're white on the bottom they're not finished ripening.

- [Dara] With a keen eye.

She's looking through to make sure she's grabbing the reddest, juiciest one she can find.

- That's why you have to check 'em before you pick 'em.

It's a process, - [Dara] One that brings her peace.

- It's therapy, you know, I love doing it.

- [Dara] When she's ready to roll out, she has three white baskets that are a gallon each, overflowing with strawberries that she'll soon turn into fresh jam for her company.

Bermuda Jamsations once she's home.

And of course we had to follow Marshallene there so we could see all the fun for ourselves.

She begins by cleaning the strawberries in a bowl of water and vinegar.

Research shows that vinegar is helpful because it removes bacteria and slows down mold growth.

Then she chops off the leafy green parts.

Now it's time for her to smash some berries.

All arms, no machines, just how she likes it.

- It's better this way.

Homemade stuff always better because first of all, you're putting yourself in it.

- [Dara] It takes Marshallene five cups of smashed strawberries to make about a dozen jars of jam.

While the strawberries cook down she adds all her special ingredients, including pectin, which is a natural substance from fruits that helps the jam to thicken and set.

After the mixture reaches the perfect texture, she pours it into mason jars, puts the jars in boiling hot water to seal them.

- And that's what they call water canning.

- [Dara] And in a few days, once they're properly set.

- Hey, girl.

- Hey.

- Hi, Marshallene, how are you?

- I'm fine.

- [Dara] They're ready for customers like Melissa Morrison.

- She's making all her jams, I feel like, with a lot of love, and she just takes her time.

- [Dara] Marshallene started Bermuda Jamsations back in 2009 from her Matthews kitchen.

In addition to jams, she makes jellies, sauces, and salsa.

The flavors are pretty unique too, like mangapricot, tomato strawberry and pickled daikon radish and pears.

- Every time I look, I'm doing some combinations and that's how I have so many different kinds.

- [Dara] For Marshallene, who was born and raised in Bermuda, working with fresh fruit isn't anything new.

- We used to go out, climb the trees to pick loquats, pick cherries and stuff.

- [Dara] When she started her business, she made sure to pay homage to her roots.

- First we were gonna say Bermuda Sensations, and then since most of it was gonna be jam at first, we decided Bermuda Jamsations, so that's how we came about the name.

- [Dara] Marshallene has been in the US since 1994, but she and her husband Harry, who's also from Bermuda, have pieces all throughout their home that remind them of the island.

- This is just one of the dancers.

Gombey is something traditional that like when we have a parade, you have your dancers, you have the "Whip Man," and you have the drummers.

What they do is when they get into a circle, people make a circle for them and throw out money, and they collect money.

- [Dara] This electrifying tradition of Gombey dancing has deep roots in Bermuda.

According to historians, during the period of slavery, enslaved Africans would gather with their loved ones during Christmas time and dance.

These dances mock their British enslavers, so they wore masks.

Despite the British restricting these gatherings, the traditions still managed to survive because of secret performances and oral teachings.

- Where we stayed, we can actually see these feathers on the hats coming down through the hill, coming down to the street.

It was really interesting as a kid.

- [Dara] Because Bermuda is a British colony, tea, is another big part of the culture.

And if you browse around the couple's kitchen, you'll find tea everywhere.

- You can look in there and see.

We've got different types of teas in here.

- This is lavender that's from my garden, my own lavender flower.

You drink it as tea.

- [Dara] Whether it's tea with herbs straight from the earth, or jam made with freshly picked fruit.

Marshallene's passion for handmade products not only brings joy to others, but gives them a taste of the island she'll always call home.

For Carolina Impact, I'm Dara Khaalid.