10 June

Solar Day – Excitement And Guilt. One For Mother Nature

by Jon Katz

A landmark day at Bedlam Farm. The Plug PV work crews arrived just before nine to install our solar panels and dig a trench from the panels to our electrical system.

Maria is keeping a vigilant eye out for her plants and garden, the excavator is going about 18 inches deep. My computer should be powered by the sun shortly after lunch (when Liz Lewis, our farrier is coming to shear the sheep.)

I admit to feeling a bit of Pandemic and other guilt at being so upbeat when there is so much suffering, death, and anger out in the wider world.  It doesn’t really feel like a good time to celebrate, but I do feel excited about the day, so does Maria.

I sensed that this was a good time to look at things we need but could not ordinarily afford. I needed a new car and we have wanted to go solar for a long time. We ruled out both before the Pandemic – just too expensive.

I suppose there’s a fine line between exploiting suffering and using it for some good. This is a very big step for our farm and a vote for the future of human beings.

The solar people and the car dealers were both eager to do business, and I saw my opening and took it. So we have a solar system that requires no money down with all of the tax write-off offs and lower electric bills, and a new car for $300 a month.

Guilt is a common human emotion, but also a useless one for me. Besides, a friend said, “this is one for Mother Nature.” Actually both things are, the new car is a hybrid and gets 41 miles to the gallon.

I’ll post some photos as we move along today.

3 Comments

  1. You should savor such a sweet win-win and that you could pull it off during a dark time – another way to shine a light for all of us to enjoy

  2. Today’s reading from “The Language of Letting Go,” summed this up nicely, Jon. “We are not being disloyal by allowing ourselves to move forward.” “Changing ourselves, allowing ourselves to grow while others seek their own path is how we have the most beneficial impact on people we love.”
    We have to fill our own cups, in order to have anything to give – this is all a part of it for you – solar panels, a new car. I can relate to your guilt about celebrating anything now, I bet a lot of us can. However, not all of our journeys are the same. Thanks again, for sharing your journey with us.

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