Bean There? Podcast Vitalo

The Bean There? Podcast was broadcasting live from Vitalo Cafe in Lilli Pilli. This close knit community is steeped in history and thrives despite being out of the way.  It's deep water frontage onto the Port Hacking is home to the Lilli Pilli Baths and an underwater estuary and one of Australia's most beautiful dive sights.   Sarah Jo from SO Shire shared the entrants of the Sustainability Awards of the The Local Business Awards - a supporter of the Bean There? Podcast series. 

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See our blog for the complete list but a special mention goes to Endota Spa and the Tradies who are creating sustainable changes in reducing waste, energy and plastics.   Nat and Carl from the Abyss Project joined us to talk about the research projects and report into the devastation of the Fires and Floods on our marine environment, National Science Week and the Live Dive Project for Friday the 21 August.  Find out more information about Keep Australia Beautiful Week 17-21 August and the locals who are making small changes that make a big difference. 

"As Australians we have a deep love of our coast line  and a real stewardship and responsibility to our oceans and once we know the problem is through the science and fact we collect, we can find the solutions.' - Nat, Head of Marine Science for The Abyss Project.

We speak to the Owner of Vitalo, Patti who shares her love of nourishing humans with good clean healthy food and our environment with sustainable options like the recently adopted Green Caffeen swap and go coffee cups.

'The second largest contributor of waste is the single use coffee cup and it is an unknown expense to the owner that can be eliminated by the encouraging reusable and recyclable coffee cups, so we'll drink to that'

Di from Whistlecomms chatted with Sarah Jo about her role in bring the Green Caffeen dream to life and her journey with the innovative creators behind the concept. 

Patti has seen first hand how her cafe has become an essential service in her community during these times. With the isolation imposed, Vitalo has become a hub of human connection where people have made time to chat, talk and check in with others.

Local resident Mel, and creator of the Lilli Pilli Hub,  on instagram and the biannual markets at Lilli Pilli Infants School dropped in to meet friends and shared why she started what has become the go to place to find those local home based businesses and hand made products.  Whilst she is the owner of a large sized family business, the Waratah Group Services, with her husband, Lilli Pilli Hub and Markets have given her the opportunity to deeply connect with her community.  'Everybody has a story, I have a back story and I like to understand the back story of others, I find people fascinating and it helps me to understand myself better.' says Mel.

At one point we have three environmental scientists around the table and they were all young inspiring women passionate about finding the simple solutions and alternatives that not only protect what we have but have a deep concerns for the massive consequences of our future generations if we do nothing. One of these was the young and inspiring Chloe, from the Greater Good Collective  who has started her own online store providing environmentally sustainable goods that she hopes will one day be the norm, not an option. 

In this episode we bring over 46 businesses into the spotlight, 32 environmental alternatives and 8 engaging people for one huge conversation centred around the importance of the health and wellbeing of our community and the impact of the health and wellbeing of our environment upon it. 

There is so much more packed into this episode than I can write about here.  Check out the blog for time stamps and the businesses we showcased.   Thank you Vitalo, thank you Lilli Pilli. We look forward to coming back and supporting you and your community, keeping it beautiful just like the people that reside there.