I started working at Master's house a couple of years ago. People in Ledbury know me as a gardener, and Master Cooper got to hear of me. He asked me to plant some new hedges around the gardens and the orchard. It was a big job. It took 1200 cuttings in all. Ours is a working garden, and it's part of our home farm.

Not like the fancy new Italian gardens that all the lords and ladies want. Almost everything we grow here is food and medicine for the master and the brethren.

You'll find vegetables like onions and turnips, fruits like raspberries and strawberries and herbs, like lavender and thyme.

George keeps a close eye on the kitchen garden. Because that's where he gets most of his ingredients from. He has got a fierce temper.

But He's a good fellow, really. And Sister Sybil has a place where she grows what she needs to make her medicines, too. Master Cooper loves the garden.

But the orchard's his favorite. After working in his study all day, he likes to walk through the orchard and enjoy the evening air. Sometimes he will sit under the trees and read one of his books.

And he likes a drop of cider that we make from our apples, too.

I keep a few beehives in the orchard.

George says that it's the best honey that he's ever tasted. And he often uses it in his cooking. Wax is useful for all kinds of things around the hospital too.

Like protecting the timbers against woodworm. Now, if you'll excuse me, I must get on.