Our Story... so far...

Hey there! My name is Jonathan Leonhardt - I am a 45 year old Armed Forces Veteran. I was born in Northern Ontario and spent my childhood playing on the North shore of Lake Nipissing, exploring the forests and waterways alone - at peace and grounded... The Armed Forces brought me to the Kingston & Trenton areas after basic training, and this is where I have called home since. I served for 16 years and in that time I learned how to  always remain calm, resourceful, organized, and responsible - even in the face of adversity and seemingly no-win situations.  I also learned to leave a minimal footprint on my environment and to live minimalistically... 

I have been an organic Hobby Farmer / Gardener for the last 20 years - I started with a few day-old chickens and added a couple of ducks, then started incubating our own eggs, then added geese, and turkeys and there was no looking back.... I have kept a flock of sheep, Tamworth Pigs, and a donkey to watch over them. I taught myself to butcher our meat animals through watching videos online,  and then shared these new skills with others. I've led 4-H clubs in Blacksmithing, Gardening, and Rabbit Husbandry. 

I have 9 years of post-secondary education (since 2013) - I have an Advanced Diploma in Practical Nursing w/ Distinction - with focus on Mental Health. I completed 2 of 3 years of Civil Engineering Tech - I did not complete 3rd year due to Covid shutdowns, but I learned much of what I needed to know about water management - well and wastewater, surveying, and structural design in the first 2 years. I most recently completed a 2-year Mechanical Technician program and earned my Diploma w/ Distinction in April 2023. I have since attended a 2-week intensive business Bootcamp for Veterans, run by the King's Trust Canada, at Dalhousie University in Halifax June 2023, where I began developing my life / business plan in its current revision. 

I am a nature lover, an organic farmer, a welder / fabricator / maker. I have always been able to create something from nearly nothing - Heck, I scavenged wire while on tour in Afghanistan in 2002, and made chainmail armour to pass the time while not on shift... I even taught a few other folks how to do it…  

Our vision is this - we are not developers – We see our future property becoming ‘Wolf & Cricket Hollow’ - Our Family Homestead, ~100 acres of mixed field and forest for our family to manage and protect, with plenty of space to raise the flock of sheep that I miss so badly, and other animals for food and fibre. With room for a greenhouse, plenty of gardens and orchards, and a pond (or two). We hope to build an energy efficient, off-grid home for ourselves and live a healthy minimalist life. 

In addition to hosting Yoga, Meditation, Art, and Scandinavian Spa Retreats - We plan to host weekend retreats for Respite Care Providers, and Families, where the amenities - saunas, trails, yoga, etc. can be enjoyed while we provide activities, experiences, classes, movies, etc. for their loved ones. My partner, Christine, is a Developmental Services Worker with more than 10 years  of experience developing and running day programming for people with disabilities. 

Many of our stays will meet the standards required for providing safe respite care – the CAS standards for safety. 

We will offer 'Farm to Plate' buffet style dinners for our retreat guests, prepared in our small energy efficient commercial kitchen, using our own produce year-round. My son Kaelan studied Culinary Management at St. Lawrence College, with a focus on Farm-to-Table meal planning and preparation, graduating in 2021. He is currently a cook / cook trainer for Denny's Canada. He is our meal planner and lead cook.  

Rowan, my younger son, owns a successful landscaping and property maintenance business. He and his team will be assisting us with the development of the property and with the regular maintenance of our common areas. 

We will also have a small 'on-grid' shop - JCL Mechanical Repairs & Fabrication - where I will complete all of the welding & fabrication projects for the Homestead, create items to sell in our little store, and fabricate larger items on contract - while adhering to strict environmentally friendly practices. 

We understand the physical and mental health benefits of being connected to nature, and working with our hands is therapeutic.  A huge part of my mental health routine since releasing from the Armed Forces has been taking daily nature walks with my dogs, taking (and posting) photos of nature and food, and doing lots of hands-in-the-dirt gardening.

Wolf & Cricket Hollow will be our legacy, it will allow us to provide for our family in a holistic manner, while being actively involved in our community, and will allow us to care for the land for generations to come.

We are really working hard to create the family farm / homestead that will meet the needs of our family's health and hope to share the benefits of our healthier lifestyle with others and connect with like-minded people.  

I have dreams of some day making our own wool blankets from our sheep’s wool to feature during our guests' stays, and to sell in our shop - we are going to make it happen...