Micro Climate, Micro Harvest

Microclimate of a New York City terrace garden producing its final greens.

New York City is a heat island - its own little warmer ecosystem because of the concrete and density of the city. Trees, plants, gardens mitigate that heat island effect, to a degree, bringing the city closer to its natural state. My little terrace garden is often quite cooler in temperature than it is at street level, so I'm regularly reminded of its micro climate. But usually, I only sense it via short term temperature memory.

Today, though, it became visually evident, aurally, too. As I sat working, looking out at the sunny blue sky, I heard water, sounding like a leak from somewhere unseen. Flowing through the building pipes to signal the start of heat season? But it was too early for that; the heat's not due to come on for some weeks yet. Then I saw the accumulated drops on the windows and door, so I got up to see - and capture - the rain falling seemingly only over my (rather unkempt - hence why there hasn't been a wide view in awhile) terrace, with sunshine and bright blue skies a mere half block to the north. Just bizarre.

Well, as long as the weather patterns keep nourishing my little garden, that continues to produce, though less and less. There was still amaranth for a micro harvest yesterday...

... for amaranth rice - a spin on the more common spinach rice. 

It was topped with truffled salami that was too much for a charcuterie board from a gathering some months back. 

I don't usually eat meat anymore, but this was already purchased, and needs to be consumed at some point - we don't waste food in these parts; the animal already sacrificed itself, so best to honor that sacrifice. We are also all about quick and easy meals here. There's a time and place for food prepared with care and precision; evenings with long To Do lists are not those times.