Associação Nascentes de Luz

Founded in 2010 in Maceira, Leiria, Associação Nascentes de Luz is a non-profit family support association with around 200 members. Its mission is to promote the integral well-being and ecological development of the human person, in relationship with themselves, others and nature, guided by values of cooperation, respect, sustainability and spirituality. Since 2012 the association has developed a permaculture project designed by landscape architect Eunice Neves, which combines landscape architecture and permaculture to create a model space for a sustainable future. In 2013 the project was deepened through a two-week Permaculture Design Course (PDC) taught in English, attended by more than 30 participants. Since then, the community has progressively implemented the design: tracing paths, building vegetable gardens near the main house, and introducing syntropic regenerative agriculture through the planting of trees, shrubs and diverse vegetation for biomass. The association has also built rainwater collection and distribution points, is constructing a communal fountain ('Fonte de Siloé'), and restored an old well-house with the help of volunteers and local partners, including the Junta de Freguesia da Maceira and various supporting local businesses. Beyond its ecological work, Nascentes de Luz hosts an annual community gathering called Festa das Famílias and recently opened a quiet contemplative space called 'Escuta o Silêncio'. Volunteers are welcomed every Wednesday to join the gardening group and learn syntropic agro-gardening techniques. The association combines strong social and spiritual roots with a practical commitment to permaculture principles: caring for the earth, caring for people, and sharing knowledge and resources.