Edens Lost and Found : How Ordinary Citizens Are Restoring Our Great American Cities

by Wiland, Harry

• ISBN13: 9781931498890
• ISBN10: 193149889X
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2006-01-15
• Publisher: Chelsea Green Pub Co

Summary

WithEdens Lost & Found, award-winning filmmakers Harry Wiland and Dale Bell herald an exciting sea change in the relationship between ordinary citizens, environmental groups, and government. From across America they gather evidence of a new spirit of cooperation among neighbors, planners, architects and builders, city officials, and government agencies. Indeed, as urban issues have become undeniably urgent problems that demand answers, people from disparate backgrounds and political leanings are joining forces to recast life in American cities. As citizens take action where government has failed, they are finding support, encouragement, and help from their neighbors. Conversely, as progressive-minded government agencies and organizations explore nontraditional solutions, an energized community rallies to the cause. Neither exclusively top-down, nor grass roots, we are in the midst of an unprecedented movement that unites efforts from every quarter in a common cause. Focusing on Chicago, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and Seattle-four cities that face vastly different challenges-Edens Lost & Foundhighlights the remarkable power of hope, pride, ingenuity, and chutzpah that characterize this era of collaboration. Bioengineering concepts-now increasingly understood by many to offer the most effective, cost-efficient solutions-are playing a central role. Working with-rather than in opposition to-nature is leading to such innovations as rooftop and urban gardens, restored parks, transformed vacant lots, the re-greening of city streets, and eco-friendly watershed management.Edens Lost & Foundshows how working to reshape the land also transforms the relationships people have to one another.

Table of Contents

Foreword

Introduction

Overview

Chicago: A City in a Garden

Philadelphia: A Holy Experiment

Los Angeles: The End of the Rainbow

Seattle: Tomorrow Is Now

Community Action Resource Directory

Acknowledgments

Funding Organizations

Index

Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.