The Foundation was created in honor of JD (Kyler) Edmont de la Doucette, a remarkable young man whose life was cut tragically short at 25. Though his passing was accidental, he had long struggled in life. He had been abused and bullied as a child and carried deep wounds. Although he did not fit into traditional molds, JD’s high intelligence, creativity, and emotional insight touched everyone who knew him. He thrived in hands-on learning, found solace in nature, and was always a steady presence for troubled friends in times of need. As they all sought purpose, a common theme in their lives was the depressive weight of emptiness, of a lonely and painful disconnection from the world around them. Our mission is to carry JD’s spirit forward–offering community, creative learning, and nature-based healing to all who come.
Rooted in a 100-acre sanctuary in the lower Cévennes region of the south of France, the Foundation is a living tribute to JD’s journey—a place where others can reconnect with the earth, with others, with themselves. Here, in a Mediterranean climate amid regenerating forests, flowing springs, and organic permaculture gardens, we welcome those seeking healing, meaning, or simply a new beginning.
Our permaculture and forest regeneration project is part of a 12th-century domain set on 100 acres in the lower Cévennes region of southern France, just north of Provence and the Mediterranean coast. The castle is a historical monument, the seat of a noble Protestant family with a colorful past. The property borders a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its Mediterranean Agro-Pastoral Cultural Landscape. It is a unique haven with a chestnut forest and olive grove, dozens of ancient stone terraces of permaculture lining the hillsides, pristine drinking water from a mountain source, streams with natural swimming holes, cascades, hiking, …
A Franco-American author, screenwriter, and permaculture farmer, JD’s father has dedicated his life and property to the creation of this sanctuary. Rooted in both language and soil, he brings a long-standing commitment to storytelling, land stewardship, and the belief that healing begins in truth, authenticity … and connection.
He has long worked to support and guide young people, including through his role as a licensed foster care provider in California. That commitment has deepened through personal experience—knowing firsthand the pain of disconnection, the shadow of depression, and the profound grief of losing his only child.
Having survived his own near-death experience, he emerged with a sense of clarity and a renewed calling: to create a place where others might rediscover their will to live with purpose and joy. This Foundation is the embodiment that mission—a living expression of love, resilience, and hope.
A former Finnish soldier with degrees in business management and cybersecurity, Jani brings precision, steadiness, and deep integrity to the daily running of the land. His work blends practical care—forestry, infrastructure, security—with quiet presence and a profound respect for nature. He ensures that the Foundation remains not only functional, but a place of peace and welcome.
