Sjoerd Aardema

 Sjoerd Aardema has been an Active Transition agent since before he himself knew of the word Transition and currently is the driving force in the development of Far North Queenslands (Australia) first Transition Hub called Recharge Kuranda a Transition Towns Community Hub and Knowledge Center.

Having worked extensively throughout the Dutch Caribbean in Sustainable Development planning and consultancy with local communities and local Governments it became evident early on that being ahead of ones time can be challenging. After a successful year in incorporating Permaculture design into the Cuban system of Organoponics Farming and setting up a, still ongoing, community Farmers market on the Island of Saba, our family made a wise decision to join a team full of like minded people in Cairns, Australia.

As a Steering Committee member of Transition Cairns we developed the foundation for FNQ's first EDAP. Facilitated by no other than Transition Trainer Janet Millington ofcourse I was left totally inspired to do more, push further and shift the paradigm.

Since then Sjoerd has become a facilitator of the Awakening the Dreamer Changing the Dream Symposium and now regularly offers workshops for those who are ready to be the change through this work. More significant than inspiring people Sjoerd has become the Creative Director of the Locally Grown for Goodness Sake! Social Enterprise: RealFood Network, a true example of a Transition in Action.

Now that Sjoerd is back at strengthening a Local Food Network, Community Farmers Markets and all the Goodness that comes from that are on the Transition Agenda. This is where Recharge Kuranda as an Transition Umbrella was born for the wider Region.

The Recharge hub itself is covered in its running cost by the community who gladly support their local community Farmers Market and that facilitates an amazing variety of workshops, events, activities, networks' representation, information sharing and community activation. Recharge Kuranda is set out to Re ignite Community Spirit.

Sjoerd has facilitated various Transition FNQ meetings, engaged in Council Community Planning workshops and private sessions, given lectures to local students during their Field Study on Sustainability for the Tablelands region and regularly puts on events or Movies that Matter that all relate back to Transition and being the change.

Sjoerd is the unofficial Project Leader of the Recharge Kuranda group, a loosely connected, not officially structured group of inspired change agents and community driven individuals that all enjoy being part of something Great!

Recharge Kuranda is already a:

- Local Energy Trading System (LETS) Hub that regularly holds LETS trading days and events.

- Seed Savers Hub that regularly hold Seed Saving meetings, have a Seed bank and share and preserve Seed Knowledge.

- Community Farmers and Artist Markets with Live Art and Local Food every Friday & Saturday

- Community Soup Kitchen that serves beautiful RealFood each Sunday to the community. RealSoup for Free. Made by volunteers and particpants at the Hub.

- Community Peace Garden Project that holds a wide variety of local, heirloom and heritage vegetable seed stock, all alive in the ground.

- Transition FNQ meeting place and physical representation hub.

- Active community workshop and public presentation place. We have had sensitive permaculture trainings, weaving and bush tucker workshops, transition town meetings, bio dynamic field days, trading days, Free days, art workshops and more.

- Community Movies that Matter film screening venue where we play RealMovies that Matter.

- Free Cycle Center where people can share, give and take anything that they'd like to change over.

- Up Cycle Center that upcycles products like bags, second hand t-shirts and more.

- 100% Renewable Energy Now Campaign supporter.

- Arts and Music stage for local talent and creative artists.

- the driving energy behind the Fluoride Free Kuranda Campaign that is set up to prevent Fluoride coming into the Towns' waters.

Recharge Kuranda is to still become:

- a Recycle Center for glas bottles, cans and paper as well as loads of plastic.

- a Green Organic gardeners Club Playgroup for young and old.

- add your own creative thoughts to this list :)