It has been projected in the Kentucky by the Numbers document produced by U.K.’s Community and Economic Development Initiative of Kentucky (CEDIK) that by the year 2025, 18% of Jessamine County’s population will aged 65 and over. As community members age, they often loose access to fresh, healthy foods because of fixed incomes, lack of transportation and “food desserts” in low-income housing neighborhoods where many senior citizens live.

The Jessamine County Senior Center provides transportation services for Jessamine County residents, meals for home-bound seniors as well as seniors coming into the center, socialization and activities, exercise and health programs. In an effort to provide the Senior Center participants with access to fresh and nutritious blackberries and an opportunity to get involved in a healthy outdoor activity, a blackberry garden was planned and established at the Center. The ANR and FCS Agents with the Jessamine County Extension Service, in cooperation with the Jessamine County Senor Center and the U.K. Department of Dietetics & Human Nutrition have worked together to plan and implement the blackberry garden. The blackberry garden has now been established with 3 different varieties, row covers and trellis. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the planned educational activities with the Senior Center participants has been put on hold but the plants have been established for future use.

In addition to the Blackberry Nutrition Program at the Senior Center, A Brambles Production class was offered to the public via ZOOM. The program was jointly promoted by the Jessamine County Extension Service and the Jessamine County Library. The program was hosted by the Jessamine County ANR Agent and conducted by Dr. John Strang, U.K. Horticulture Specialist. A total of 14 participated in the online meeting include two from Alabama. Class participants received free planting materials including improved blackberry and raspberry seedlings. One class participant reported, “I had wanted to add blackberries to my farm for several years, but didn’t know where to start. The Brambles Class offered by the Jessamine County Extension Office gave me tools I needed to make my berry patch a reality. I picked my first handful of homegrown raspberries last night!”