Samford Connect is the digital outreach and online presence for Samford Commons Ltd. It currently consists of this blog and social media profiles (largely Facebook at the moment). It is all being run by volunteers at this time.
The future plans for Samford Connect include an online website/portal that connects residents, community groups and businesses in Samford and surrounds. This will include an events listing, business directory, individual blogs for community groups and many other features. Stay tuned!
Samford Commons will be a world class, innovative and exciting showcase for sustainable living and working. It will use leading-edge technology, creative educational strategies and innovative approaches to engaging communities and businesses on-site and on-line.
It will help grow a sustainable local economy at Samford and is in one of the fastest growing regions in Australia. With a strong virtual presence the benefits will be far reaching to regional and rural Australians and globally.
With a focus on social, economic and environmental outcomes it will operate as a sustainable business partnership managed by a not-for-profit, community-owned charitable company, Samford Commons Ltd.
Partners will include government agencies, private sector companies, local entities such as Millen Farm and Creative Samford, and community organisations and networks. The Moreton Bay Regional Council is one of our first partners and an exemplar of a whole of government approach to working with communities.
Samford Commons will be a practical, dynamic example of sustainability principles in action. The Commons’ approach to sustainability living, learning and working will include a large range of hands-on activities, experiences with virtual media, street art and theatre, low-energy-use workplaces, alternative energy exhibition, sustainable industry displays, co-working sustainability businesses, permaculture gardening, sustainable urban farming in practice and sustainability education programs.
The Commons will host conferences, conduct accredited environmental management programs, sell natural produce, hold demonstration field days, conduct school programs, support sustainable industry co-working, manage a connection to the broader community and provide daily programs and innovative activities for businesses, schools, tourists, community members and on-line clients.
Benefits
The benefits to the Samford community will be very significant in that Samford Commons will:
- Contribute to the social, environmental and economic sustainability of Samford;
- Showcase Samford’s creativity, community collaboration, futuristic thinking, educational capacity and commitment to a sustainable future;
- Develop new and ongoing opportunities for local employment;
- Be a place for sustainable businesses to network and collaborate;
- Engage the community, including local schools, in exciting learning processes;
- Be able to grow and consume locally grown food and will be part of a model on how to farm in an urban environment;
- Enhance school-based and life-long learning; and,
- Build stronger capacity in the community to live and work sustainably
Similarly, benefits to the wider community are likely to be:
- Contribute to triple-bottom-line sustainability in Samford, Moreton Bay Region, Brisbane, Queensland and Australia;
- Be an example of innovative, futuristic thinking by the community, educators, government and the private sector;
- Develop new and renewed industries;
- Expand employment opportunities;
- Enhance school-based learning and life-long learning;
- Heighten economic sustainability;
- Develop rural and regional Australia through access to the programs and processes provided by Samford Commons;
- Build stronger capacity in communities to act more sustainably;
- Provide significant reductions to the nation’s greenhouse gas emissions; and
- Generate significant export income.
