In the Middle Ages, flowers and vegetables grew together. This is what the vegetable garden of Royaumont Abbey perpetuates. For two years, Romain Van de Walle (photo) has been the head gardener in charge of the daily maintenance of the abbey’s historical and contemporary gardens. In order to adapt the plants to the new climatic constraints, the gardener practices ecological agriculture, while respecting the history of the site. In the vegetable garden, he works with the support of a social integration company, which carries out heavy work such as mowing, pruning, and weeding.