A Little Green Avocado Green Brands

S3 E1: “It's one thing understanding that intellectually... it's another thing actually seeing what happened.”

In September of 2023, heavy rainfall led to flooding in New York City. Images of cars covered in water were all over the news and reminded people of one of New York’s most harrowing weather events: Superstorm Sandy. To kick off this season of A Little Green, host Christina Thompson sets out on a mission to find the upside. She asks local experts what the city’s learned in the years since Sandy, and what’s been done to make New York more a resilient, climate solutions-oriented place to live – for everybody.

S3 E2: “What if the rebuilding of the city in the face of a climate crisis is a moment to build a more just and a more environmentally flexible city?”

Before we can understand what the future of New York City could look like as our climate changes, we need to go back... way back. With the help of local historian and professor, Kara Schlichting, Christina learns about what the area was like before European colonization, how settlers changed New York’s waterfronts, and how the development of industrial port infrastructure set the city up for economic dominance -- and put New Yorkers on a collision course with environmental issues we’re contending with to this day. How can our past help us determine what an equitable future might look like?

S3 E3: “You can multiply the benefits and you can also multiply the joy.”

Big storms aren’t going anywhere any time soon, so it’s essential to understand how cities like New York are adapting to and preparing for these increasingly precedented weather events. Christina gets the lowdown on some of the massive resiliency projects happening in the city. She learns about an exciting model for climate adaptation planning -- one that marries community voices with global design thinking. And, we get insight into one development that’s been the subject of some controversy on the Lower East Side.

S3 E4: “If the world is to be saved, it will be saved by those who care deeply for very small places.”

We’ve heard about some of the giant resilience efforts happening in New York; now it’s time to think a little bit smaller and talk about... oysters! Not only are oysters a delicious treat, but they’re also fundamental to the health and sustainability of New York’s waterway ecosystem. To learn all about their environmental superpowers, Christina joins the team from grassroots organization City Island Oyster Reef for a day out on the water. By partnering with other nonprofits, the Department of Environmental Conservation, local restaurants, and a crew of dedicated volunteers, CIOR is working to restore oyster populations, create new reefs, and allow these amazing little creatures to do what they do best.

In 2012, New York City got a massive wake up call: Superstorm Sandy devastated parts of the city and forever changed how we think about severe weather. But... did it change how we actually handle these events? This season, host Christina Thompson sets out to answer that very question and understand just what climate resiliency looks like in her own backyard. Follow along as she connects with grassroots groups across New York City to learn about the innovative, inspiring, and collaborative ways they’re protecting their communities. From Red Hook to the Bronx, each episode features people who care deeply for their neighborhoods — and lessons for anyone who wants to take action today.

S2 E1: “One of the powers of this little canoe...is keeping these really important parts of our culture, our history, and our traditions alive.”

Thousands of years ago, Polynesian seafarers did something remarkable: they navigated their way across endless miles of open ocean guided only by the stars, the wind, and the sea, ultimately arriving in Hawaii. As a child, Lehua Kamalu grew up hearing this epic story, and in 2022, she was the first woman to captain and navigate that ancient route. To kick season two of A Little Green off, Lehua shares how one historic canoe and the people that make up its crew could help preserve Hawaiian culture and the health of our planet.

Visit www.hokulea.com to learn more about the Polynesian Voyaging Society. Do you have a story to share? Tell us how nature has changed your life @avocadogreenbrands on Instagram.