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Larry and Ilene Moss
10102 Mock Road
Springport, MI 49284
(Site includes both the
Log Cabin and Clear
View Farms) |
| The log cabin and gardens, owned by Larry and Ilene
Moss, are located one mile east of Springport, off M-99 on Mock
Road. The Moss' site will also feature beef cattle which are
raised by Larry Gonzalez, their son-in-law at Clear View Farms. Kettle corn will be
available for purchase at this site. |
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Moss'
Log Cabin and Gardens |
 Unlike
the sensual, serene, pastel hues of Claude Monets
gardens, Ilene Moss creates an amazingly unique pallet
containing the brilliant, bold colors of a rainbow and
paints in own style. The Landscape is full of tall,
swaying, dewy green grasses and herbs; the radiant crimson
poppies show through along with foxgloves, the color of
eggplant; and yellow daisies, luminous as the peel of
lemon. Tiger Lilies gleam as well, allowing the morning
sun to peer through Ilenes masterpiece. Gazing at the
glowing blossoms is as breathtakingly beautiful, as if
Ilene had the tool of a master painter and a canvas that
came to life. |
 As
one follows the short, narrow, brick path through the
color-speckled garden, a small, brown, one-room cabin is
revealed. The cabin is made of logs, and has the
appearance of a house one would recognize alone at the top
of a mountain. However, this rustic cabin is in
Springport, Michigan and is filled from floor to ceiling
with numerous craft items made with the same hands, which
inspired the growth of the thriving flower garden. |
 Upon
entering the cabin, a vegetable garden is noticeable to
the right. The three quarters of an acre garden, is nicely
tilled and sown in nearly perfect rows. Sweet corn,
tomatoes, cabbage, squash, green peppers, and cucumbers
find Ilenes soil an enriching residence. The orange and
yellow marigolds, in line with the plants, add an
aesthetic glow to the garden, while protecting from
unwanted pests. |
 Ilene,
the master of her domain, enjoyed 27 years as an
elementary teacher in Springport. Along with teaching she
kept herself busy as a leader for the 4-H High-steppers.
Following her full scheduled life as an educator, Ilene
finally felt it was time to move onto the next phase of
her life. Larry, her husband, had the cabin built for her
by a company from Wisconsin. The cabin, gardens, and her
crafts were all planned as a retirement project.
Ilene creates a purpose for each item she produces on
her land. Ilene places the colorful produce she grows from
her garden all around the front of her little cabin, for
passers by to purchase. The rest of the items she has for
sale are placed busily around the inside of the cabin. She
dries the herbs from her garden, weaves them together and
turns them into baskets. Ilene winds her herbs together to
make decorative wreaths for hanging on the wall. She also
grows and dries gourds, which she eventually paints, and
drills holes into. The finished gourds make wonderful
homes for a variety of birds. The cabin walls are
decorated with a plethora of other items and will
definitely catch the eye of any crafter. Any one
interested in such items, will find this Farmfest stop an
absolute delight. |
 Ilene
Moss and her husband Larry have lived in this beautiful
rural setting for the past 38 years and have raised three
lovely children. They would consider themselves living the
"American Dream" and wouldnt trade their
positions in life for anything. Larry busies himself with
his own hobby of lead bullet making while Ilene works the
land. They are graciously opening their lives to the
public on September 21, for Jackson Countys Family
Farmfest and are hoping to educate, enrich, and inspire
those who are interested in living and/or learning about
life in the country. |
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Clear
View Farms |
 At 10102 Mock Road, a substantial amount of
green pasture is made available for 80 multicolored beef cattle
to roam and graze. Larry and Lorna Gonzalez have raised their
beef cattle at this location, "Clearview Farm," for
the past 15 years. Larry and Ilene Moss are happy to lend their
open land to their daughter and son-in-law. The beef cattle
fenced across the farmstead from Ilenes charming cabin, adds
just the right touch to the comforting country scene. |
| Larry and Lorna Gonzalez, both work full-time
jobs, raise two teenaged boys, and keep beef cattle happy and
fed down the road from their own home. The boys, Nathan who is a
freshman and Jacob, a junior in high school, are both involved
in 4-H and raise their own beef cattle alongside their dad. They
both recently spent the week down at the Jackson County fair to
show the animals they have been graciously providing for.
This Family Farmfest site is one to surely
impress you. The hosts of Clearview Farm will educate the public
about the process of raising beef from calf to market. The
public will also have the opportunity to observe swine in a
number of growth stages; of which are owned by the Cockrofts,
a fellow farming family in the area. The sweet taste of kettle
corn will be available for purchase while you top the tour off
with a stroll through Ilene Moss gardens and cabin. |
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