Community Partner: Walnut Hills Redevelopment Foundation: Community Gardens
Walnut Hills Redevelopment Foundation started a community gardening project in 2014, in order to combat the negative impact of being a food desert. Then in 2017, the only grocery store in the neighborhood closed its doors, furthering the food desertification of the community. Since then, many more community gardens have been cultivated that use a combination of communal beds and individually maintained beds. Some of the produce grown in the gardens is free for anyone to take, and other produce is picked to support local food pantries and free-fridges.
The community garden offers residents of the neighborhood the opportunity to come together to create something new. They can work together to grow the fresh fruits and vegetables that they need for their families. While the negative impacts of food insecurity still exist in Walnut Hills, the various community gardens and the shared stewardship of the land undertaken by the community members provides hope for a healthier future.
About Hawk
My name is Hawk Royer. I’m from Montgomery, Indiana, which is a small rural town of about 800 people. I attended Purdue University, where I double-majored in Neurobiology and Physiology and Public Health. I came into medical school knowing that I wanted to be a psychiatrist, but I also knew that I enjoyed working in the community with local non-profits and people making an impact outside of the typical healthcare setting.
During my first two years of medical school, I volunteered with an afterschool program through BLOC Ministries, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Through the Urban Health Project, I was able to intern for BLOC between my first and second year as well. All that said, I missed volunteering and working in the community during my third year (most of my free time was spent with my wife and newborn son), so I decided to join the service and advocacy elective because I enjoy giving back to my community and wanted to learn more about advocating for my patients in various contexts, as one day I’ll be advocating for my own patients. One of my hobbies since starting medical school has been gardening. I’ve come to appreciate the integral role of fresh food to personal health, which is why I wanted to partner with the community gardens in Walnut Hills.