"An inspiring look at how cities can be transformed." Philadelphia Daily News

Focusing on Chicago, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, and Seattle -- four cities that face a range of demographic, economic and environmental challenges -- this special documentary series shows how integrated resource planning combined with local community support have come together with bold strategies offering hope to our great American cities.

Many of the problems these cities are confronting pose similar challenges to other metropolitan areas -- of all sizes -- across America. And there is much to be learned from the solutions they are finding.

Showcasing strategies that contribute to a sustainable ecosystem -- including open space and public parks, urban forestry, watershed management, public art, waste disposal, recycling, green architecture, environmental justice, neighborhood development, and mass transit alternatives -- Edens Lost & Found presents the integrated "best practices" that are making a significant difference in these four cities.

The titles in the series are:

Edens Lost & Found - Chicago - City Hall and grass roots groups in Chicago are working on open space, green buildings and an educated citizenry to create a sustainable city.

Edens Lost & Found - Philadelphia - Faced with severe budget limitations, Philadelphia's rebirth is being brought about by a network of community-based volunteer organizations.

Edens Lost & Found - Los Angeles - Is it possible that the City of the Angels can tell a story to the world about environmental rebirth?

Edens Lost & Found - Seattle - Recognizing that the human community is growing faster than the aging infrastructure, the city of Seattle created an Office of Sustainability and Environment.



Grade Level: 7-12, College, Adult
US Release Date: 2006     Copyright Date: 2006
DVD ISBN: 1-59458-392-7     VHS ISBN: 1-59458-391-9

Reviews "Wiland and Bell show us that some of the real solutions might just be on our doorstep, our roofs, and in our city halls." Anna Lappé, Co-Founder of Small Planet Institute, Co-Author of Grub: Ideas for an Urban Organic Kitchen "An inspiring look at how cities can be transformed and how parks and green space can heal the soul of a community." Philadelphia Daily News "Inspiring examples from Chicago, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and Seattle show how people can rediscover the natural attributes that made their cities desirable to settle in the first place." Sierra Magazine "There's something positively redemptive about Edens Lost and Found, the new PBS series about the transformation of dismal urban spaces into gardens and parks, villages and murals that are green and welcoming." Virginia A. Smith, Philadelphia Inquirer "Fascinating...Edens Lost and Found: Chicago offers a positive look at how individuals as well as whole neighborhoods band together to improve their local communities...Also highly recommended are the other DVDs in the Edens Lost and Found series covering Philadelphia, Los Angeles, and Seattle." The Midwest Book Review "I used Edens Lost and Found to organize a course I taught this summer...What a great class we had! The series proved to be a valuable tool in focusing the student's attention. By highlighting a variety of topics, institutional arenas, and personalities involved with environmental sustainability in four cities, the series alerted my students to the opportunities and challenges available to policy makers. The fact that the series showed the struggle to incorporate environmental values in everyday life, in education, and in public policy agendas at the local level, and the fact that sometimes the best intentions did not work out, provided a realistic sense of the challenge...Several of the grad students had not been exposed to the environment in this way, and told me that the class was an eye opening experience. Two were inspired to do their graduate applied research project on environmental sustainability. The Edens Lost and Found series is an important addition to material available to introduce students at all levels to environmental values. The presentation of some hard lessons regarding success and failure, and how much time and effort go into trying to change our neighborhoods and cities makes this series unique. I look forward to the next opportunity that I have to use the Edens Lost and Found series, and recommend it to educators at all levels." Greg Andranovich, Professor of Political Science, California State University-Los Angeles "These effective, professionally produced programs will inspire cities and towns all over the United States to use more green building materials, cultivate and employ native trees and plants for landscaping, find ways to practice conservation, and minimize disruptions to the natural environment. Recommended for all collections." Susan C. Awe, University of New Mexico Library, Library Journal