Customer Reviews

The Elves of Lily Hill Farm: A Partnership with Nature

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Although the title is a bit laughable (I was asked several times why I was reading a children's book at my age) I found this book to be quite informative and eye-opening.

As the author goes into detail about the effects of fungicides, herbicides and fertilizer on the land and how it affects the balance in teh soil and the terrain around, one can finally say they've learned more than the catch phrase "pesticides are bad for the earth." In the final chapter she goes into the various maladies caused by the sudden lack of nutrients in our food courtesy of teh green revolution and technology's sudden knowledge on how to do things "better" than nature has. Did you know, for instance, that diabetes was unknown to ancient peoples? This, the author says (and has cited books in the bibliography where one may read for themselves) is due to the lack of nutrition in our "cardboard" fruits and vegetables we have today. After reading this book I swore to never use another fertilizer or pesticide on anything I grew in my yard again. It is almost scary to read about the extent to which our impoverished diet has affected us mentally, emotionally and physically over the past sixty or so years.

This was a most excellent book. I simply couldn't put it down, even at the expense of homework and housecleaning. For anyone who wishes to know more about the nature of balance, and how one would go about working with the subtle energies of the earth to help whatever they grow, I most definitely recommend this book. She also has directions in the back for contacting your own devas and elves, and list of places where you could find the information she herself did.

What if we humans are not the only sentient beings in the universe, and some of those intelligent life forms are right here on Earth at this very moment? Penny Kelly addresses this question and others in her absorbing book, THE ELVES OF LILY HILL FARM. This is the story of how she met and learned to work with and trust the elves and nature spirits on her organic farm in order to succeed in her goal of harvesting 100 tons of grapes in a season -- a truly spectacular yield.

From Penny's first encounters with elves and devas (whom she sketches at the back of her book) to her discussions with vines, weeds, and various marauding animal nuisances -- the reader gains a sense of what it feels like to be in communication with the vast variety of intelligent life around us every day. Is it possible to communicate with the plants and animals around us? Absolutely. Is this communication a one-way street? Hopefully not! Kelly's tale inspired me to pay more attention to the way I interact with the intelligent life all around me -- being a bit more conscious to listen instead of just commanding orders of what I expect to occur.

I especially loved reading the comments and questions the elves posed for Penny -- including such deceptively simple queries such as, "How is it ye choose among the activities that come before ye?" The insights Penny gained as she found a way towards achieving balance in her life are valuable to us all, whether or not we are raising organic produce.

Having read the book several times, especially specific parts of the book, I must say it is the most informative where organic growing is concerned and inspires a deep need to work towards making the world a better place and restore the land. The book has very fascinating metaphysical content combined with information that is essential for improving all our lives, in general our well being. This is the BEST book I have ever read, and it is my inspiration for my current purpose in life.

This is another book about communicating with nature spirits. It's less insightful than Summer with the Leprechauns, and focused more on agriculture than general working. Many things about it remind me of the Perelandra books, which I review elsewhere.

These elves speak in vernacular, which is somewhat disconcerting, and they lead the author on an agricultural journey, teaching her how to work with nature spirits to increase plant health and productivity. In many ways this book is much like the Findhorn work as well, but less spontaneous and fresh. The focus is more on ecology and biodiversity, and in reading it I had the sense the elves were just tossed in to make the book more readable. While I didn't object to anything they "said," they sounded very human to me.

If you're really into gardening and sustainable agriculture and want to hear what "elves" say about it, get this book. Otherwise, there are others that are more highly recommended.

I started it and couldnt put it down, the lessons to be learned should be reviewed by all interested in workin with nature

This book is wonderful because of the interaction Mrs. Kelly has with the resident Elves she encounters on her farmland. It is very inreresting to learn how these beings along with a several others she encounters while trying to grow her crop think, feel and see as opposed to the average American. There is a lot to be learned from these creatures residing on the Etheric plane as the live with out greed and only have complete love for the Earth. The reason I gave it 4 stars is because it is a little too wordy in areas that don't even relate to the Elves. Some chapters might have been done without along with there being total emphasis on the Elemental creatures instead of
Mrs. Kelly's day to day struggles. If you are interested in this please read "A Summer with the Leprechauns" by Tanis Helliwell which is my favorite elemental book so far; this book is so good I wanted to savor each page - it is very to the point and explains elementals in honest and most interesting detail. You'll especially adore it if you are Irish.

I really found this book useful. It explained the elf/fairy realm in a realistic, down to earth manner. It brought to light the many ways, even if well intentioned, we manipulate the environment. It also brought to light how naive we are when it comes to our role in the food chain.

THIS BOOK SHOWS HOW TO WORK WITH NATURE. NOT FIGHT IT. TAKE THE TIME TO BE ONE WITH LIFE

Quite simply...
dear lovers of faerie lore,
... if you liked the The Findhorn Garden: Pioneering a New Vision of Man and Nature in Cooperation and the other Findhorn books you will most probably like this book. It is also similar in some ways to Tanis Helliwell's Summer With the Leprechauns: A True Story. It tells the true story of how the author got in touch with the elves and other spirits who lived on her farm and how they helped her and her husband become more in harmony with the earth in the way that they farmed, and more productive and successful as farmers thereby. While we primarily recommend it for those who are interested in faery lore, there is also much in this book that would be valuable for organic farmers.
kyela,
the silver elves

If you want to get good idea of why organic gardening is better for humans and the environment, then this book may be helpful to you.

If you're interested in modern lore on the aspects of elves then this book may not be the best choice because it is scant on info about the lives of elves in general.