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Our Farm

Who We Are ~ Promise Land Farm

jerry - dad on his promise land
My dad Jerry
in-the-greenhouse
Hosting Tea Making Workshop
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Holly and Amy Processing their 1st Rooster
Jerry on his Promised Land
Jerry - My dad on his "Promise Land"
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Amy and Nancy on "The Promised Land" circa 1985
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Jerry and Amy 1995
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Jan and Jessica hosting some friends circa 1986

My name is Amy Vine. I am a student of herbalism and for 18 years I have lived on Wildflower Way in Davisburg, MI next door to my sister Holly and her family. We were all raised in Clarkston, MI on quite a few acres of land with a large horse barn in our backyard.  My parents were adoptive and foster parents because my dad believed in seeking out and providing for people who needed the most care. He provided us with a life full of experiences. Our dad was a Vietnam Veteran who became an entrepreneur so that he could make the money he needed to do the things in life he loved and our mom gave us a strong foundation in love for God and family. My parents “Promised Land”  provided space for snowmobiles, animals, 4 wheelers, a swimming pond and a sledding hill. Of course, there were animals of all kinds. When someone asked him once, Jerry, Alpacas, really, why? He said, well, why not? That was my dad. He knew who he was and was willing to work hard to make his dreams a reality.

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Where We Came From & Where We Are Going

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A Ceiling Becomes a Foundation

My dad was a Vietnam veteran and passed away in 2017 at the age of 69 from agent orange exposure. We were all devastated and our lives were turned upside down. I was not able to set foot in his barn until January 1st, 2020. Armed with a fresh vision I was ready to honor our father and breathe life back into the barn. In 1985, my parents named their property the Promised Land because they knew God had called them there and wanted to use their space to bring healing and hope to people of all ages and abilities, in all walks and seasons of life. They adopted 2 children with special needs. They had countless people stay with us who were going through divorce, recovering from addiction, and/or needed work. We have housed foster children, and the disenfranchised. Their dream was big and they worked together to make it a reality.

In 2020, together with the support of my mom, my husband, my sisters and our children, we picked up the baton and are finishing this race that my dad started by building Promise Land Farm. We believe that God has a plan and a promise for all of us but sometimes life beats us up and leaves us worn and disillusioned. Promise Land Farm welcomes the disenfranchised and broken hearted. Through real farm work and relationship building, we give people the skills and opportunities that they need to find the path and PROMISE they were meant to fulfill.

Before and After Promise Land Pictures

Promise Land Farm
chain fall outside flag room door
Classroom before
Classroom Before(1)
Eric Herb drying room before
herb drying room before
Herb Drying room renovations
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chicken yard before
chicken coop before(1)
chicken coop before
chicken coop door before
mom working on chicken coop floor
donkey stall after
sheep pen before
sheep pen after
sheep pen finished - just need sheep
feed room before
medical_lambing stall before
eric working on lambing stall
outside flag room door Caleb unearthing chain fall
flag room
flag room
Flag room(1)
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Copy of measuring for hoophouse
big barn before
big barn after(1)
before the hoophouse
Hoop House of Hope
hoophouse before
louandjoefillingraisedbedshoophouse
hoophouse after raised beds
prayer garden after
liberty in the Prayer Garden
before great pumpkin patch
backpadfirepit
big barn after
1st bonfire at PLF Caleb and Amy
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Pictured above are the 3 original "Urban Vine Guys". Tim B., my brother Danny, and their friend Lou.
Pictured above are the 3 original "Urban Vine Guys". Tim B., my brother Danny, and their friend Lou.
In 1981 my parents adopted 2 kids with special needs. My brother Daniel, from India, and my sister Jessa from Bloomfield Hills. This is not a story about adoption, this is a story about purpose. What is YOUR purpose. My parents never pressured anyone to adopt or foster kids, but they provided opportunities for people to find their purpose by owning and operating their own businesses so when people who may be trying to get off drugs and alcohol, going through a divorce, or who had just been beat up by life needed a place to work, they were able to offer that to them. I believe that we are all born with a purpose. The Bible says God knew you before He created the world. I hope that by telling you my story, it will encourage you to see your life differently, to see your life through God’s eyes, with HIS purposes for you in mind.
In 1981 my parents adopted 2 children with special needs. My brother Daniel, from India, and my sister Jessica from Bloomfield Hills. This is not a story about adoption, this is a story about purpose. My parents never pressured anyone to adopt or foster kids, but they provided opportunities for people to find their purpose by owning and operating their own businesses so when people who may be trying to get off drugs and alcohol, going through a divorce, or who had just been beat up by life needed a place to work, they were able to offer that to them. I believe that we are all born with a purpose. The Bible says God knew you before He created the world. I hope that by telling you my story, it will encourage you to see your life differently, to see your life through God’s eyes, with HIS purposes for you in mind.
If you all havent read the Circle Maker by Mark Batterson, I would recommend that it be the next book on your list. In 2011, my husband and I met a guy named Louis, we now call him Lou or Lulabelle;) Lou was homeless, and had no family. Remember about the businesses my parents owned? Well, one of them was and apartment complex where our lullabelle was able to live. We knew in order to make a difference in Lous life and develop a meaningful relationship with him, we would need to become his guardians. You dont adopt anyone over 18, and if an individual has a developmental disability, the court will appoint a legal guardian. This was how LB became part of our family and 10 years later, he still has a wonderful home, a family that loves him, gainful employment and healthy food to eat. Through our relationship with Lou, we became friends with Joe, whose parents both died in 1 year of one another. Joes anxiety keeps him from having a job, but he now is working with us here at the church every week and is Louis roomate. When we knew we were supposed to become guardians it was like skydiving, right before you jump out of the plane you are thinking, this is crazy, this is crazy, but the minute you make yourself do what you came to do and jump out of that plane, this is crazy is followed by this is awesome, and it has been awesome!
The Circle Maker by Mark Batterson was an incredibly influential book to my husband and I. In 2011, we met a man named Louis. Lou was homeless, and had no family. My parents owned an apartment complex where Louis was able to live. We knew in order to make a difference in someone's life, you need to form a relationship with them. We would need to become guardians. That is how Louis became part of our family. Through our relationship with Lou, we became friends with Joe, who had lost both of his parents. Joe's anxiety kept him from having a job, but he now is working twice a week and has developed lifelong friendships. When we knew we were supposed to become guardians, it was like skydiving. Right before you jump out of the plane you are thinking, 'this is crazy, this is crazy', but the minute you make yourself do what you came to do and jump out of that plane, 'this is crazy' is followed by 'this is awesome', and it has truly been awesome!
As we have walked this journey with our friends who have disabilities, we have become involved in every area of their life. This is a small group that I led at my church. Most of the individuals were over 26 years old and loved connecting with us outside of class over a meal. It is our goal to develop relationships with the residents living at Flatrock Manor and other group homes as we deliver each "themed meal basket" to their homes on a regular basis.
As we have walked this journey with our friends who have disabilities, we have become involved in every area of their life. This is a small group that I led at my church. Most of the individuals were over 26 years old and loved connecting with us outside of class over a meal. It is our goal to develop relationships with the residents living at Flatrock Manor and other group homes as we deliver each "themed meal basket" to their homes on a regular basis.
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This is my brother Danny. From the minute my parents brought him home, he and i were connected. In 2014, Dan lived with my family for 5 years as an adult who needed extra care (they call this high needs). In 2019, he needed more care then even we could give him and he moved into a high needs home that had 6 other men living there. During the year and a half that he lived with them, I developed relationships with the other residents when I would bring lunch to them. In high needs homes, generally the residents do not have contact with friends and family. Baskets of Bounty was birthed from the connections I was able to make through the meals we shared. When we bring baskets it opens the doors to get to know individual needs for employment and friendship that can potentially be met through our businesses, Urban Vine and Promise Land Farm.
This is my brother Danny. From the minute my parents brought him home, he and I were connected. In 2014, Dan lived with my family for 5 years as an adult who needed extra care (they call this high needs). In 2019, he needed more care than even we could give him and he moved into a high needs home that had 6 other men living there. During the year and a half that he lived with them, I developed relationships with the other residents when I would bring lunch to them. In high needs homes, generally the residents do not have contact with friends and family. Baskets of Bounty was birthed from the connections I was able to make through the meals we shared. When we bring baskets it opens the doors to get to know individual needs for employment and friendship that can potentially be met through our businesses, Urban Vine and Promise Land Farm.
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Our Vision

Our vision is to build a working farm that includes a restoration agriculture model, including, but not limited to, an orchard, sheep, bees, chickens, and a hoop house for herbs that will be used in our Urban Vine products (www.urban-vine.com). Promise Land Farm will be used as a place of education and experience for our employees with special needs at Urban Vine and people who have lost hope in their life’s promise.

Since January 2020 Urban Vine has hosted over 2,000 people at Promise Land Farm. These groups have included Herbal Education field trips and accessible events for our friends with high needs, and occupations for the residents of high needs group homes. Many of the residents of these homes have been isolated from friends and family because of emotional and behavioral complexities.

See Our Baskets of Bounty