Live With Earth is a Portuguese non-profit association active since 2012 and formally founded in 2017, based at the Eco Campus Torres Vedras, dedicated to sustainable development and the circular economy through permaculture, natural building, and European youth projects. The organisation operates from a regenerated abandoned primary school and has trained over 800 students across its programmes.
Live With Earth is a Portuguese non-profit association rooted in the academic vision of its founder, Rui Pessoa Vaz F. Vasques, whose 2011 Master's thesis in Design at IADE titled 'Sustainable Constructions: Eco-Village Community' laid the conceptual foundation for the organisation. Active since 2012 and formally established in 2017, Live With Earth is headquartered at the Eco Campus Torres Vedras, located within the Paisagem Protegida Local das Serras do Socorro e Archeira (PPLSSA) in the municipality of Torres Vedras.
The organisation's mission is structured around four elemental pillars: Water (awareness and environmental awakening), Earth (empowerment through permaculture, natural building, and natural pigments), Fire (convergence of people, knowledge, and cultures), and Air (innovation through circular economy and conscious action).
Over the years, Live With Earth has trained more than 800 students in permaculture, natural building, and circular economy, delivered over 10 Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps projects, and established the annual Live With Earth Design Conference (LWE DC4SD). The organisation's headquarters was created through the regeneration of an abandoned primary school, rehabilitated using bioconstruction principles, material reuse, and resource efficiency.
Live With Earth offers collaborations in permaculture design, natural building, eco-arts and eco-design, workshops and certified training, and European youth projects under the European Green Deal framework. The organisation is a member of the Torres Vedras Municipal Climate Action Council, a partner of the UNESCO Global Geopark Oeste, and a member of the Portuguese Colour Association. It has received recognition including the WEF Women Economic Forum 'Exceptional Leaders of Excellence' Global Award (2019) and the BPI Fundação La Caixa Solidário Prize (2024). A European branch, Live With Earth Europe, coordinates EU-funded youth and sustainability projects including Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps initiatives.
Our Goal
Live With Earth aims to promote sustainable development and the circular economy through education, research, permaculture, natural building, and European youth programmes, regenerating ecosystems and fostering human wellbeing.
Our Wishes
The organisation welcomes collaboration from individuals, organisations, and communities interested in co-creating regenerative solutions, and invites support through donations and partnerships in permaculture, natural building, eco-arts, workshops, or European youth projects.
