A herb garden in Berlin delivers a centuries-old tradition

In a secluded lot next to a former gasworks in suburban Berlin, Martin Rötzel is breathing new life into a tradition of centuries past: the monastery garden. Rötzel’s Monk Garden is home to between 150 and 200 types of herbs, leaves and trees including many that are unlikely to be found at any German supermarket. Rötzel has built Monk Garden as a business since 2022, delivering to high-end restaurants that want flavorsome local plants for their dishes. It also organizes wild herb walks and workshops showing people how to make skin cream, wine and other items from the plants.