WOODVILLE &045; Since last November, Shan Miller has been busy as the proverbial bee, launching a gourmet jelly business from her home in Woodville.

In fact, she gets plenty of help from bees because she uses honey instead of sugar to sweeten her all-natural Magnolia Honey Jelly.

Shan saw a need for extra cash to fund a home remodeling project after her husband, David, expanded his automotive repair business to include a parts store.

&uot;When we bought the store, that nipped any remodeling in the bud.

I thought ‘Well, I’ve got to do something,’&uot; she said.

Shan had made jellies for family and friends during Christmas seasons, so the idea occurred to try marketing such a product. She started with an old recipe for lemon honey jelly that she borrowed from a friend.

&uot;I tweaked it a little.

Instead of using juices, I used lemon puree,&uot; she said.

Now, Shan orders five-pound frozen containers of pureed fruits from a Washington state company.

&uot;One container is enough to produce about 160 eight-ounce jars,&uot; she said.

And the honey comes from bees that are brought to Wilkinson County every spring by the South Dakota-based Adee Honey Farms.

Adee prefers the area’s low winds and abundance of clover as an ideal breeding habitat for its bee colonies. The bees are later transported to California to help pollinate citrus crops.

Shan ordered 50 cases of Adee’s honey. When the shipment arrived, it was a defining moment for her business venture.

&uot;When I opened the closet and saw 50 cases of honey, I knew there was no turning back,&uot; said Shan.

But with guidance from David and some friends in another local gourmet business, as well as some advice from the state Department of Agriculture, Shan was soon producing 11 different flavors, including orange, strawberry, grapefruit and even chocolate.

&uot;The saying that ‘No man is an island’ is so true. I’ve had a lot help with this,&uot; she said.

And Shan’s efforts have produced some promising results.

&uot;I’ve had nothing but positive feedback ŠThe company that I bought my labels from put me in touch with Brocks, a Jackson business that promotes Mississippi products. I sold them five cases recently,&uot; she said.

The jellies contain no additives or preservatives and come elegantly gift-wrapped in gold organza tied with a black satin China knot cord.

For more information, call 601-597-0856 or visit online at www.magnoliahoneyjelly.com.