Narratives of Change: The Future's Light on My Grandfather’s Farm: The Solar Panel Journey
by Yousra Addi
My granddad's farmhouse in the countryside has been more or less our home away from home since my childhood, just so full of fond memories of our family. Every summer, we used to go there to help him with traditional farm chores: harvesting crops, tending animals, among others. It was all about heritage, using ways passed down through generations, and closely tied to nature and seasonal cycles. But over the past couple of years, I started to notice big changes : rainfalls that were less predictable, temperatures rising at times we hadn't experienced before. Crops were starting to suffer more and more from increased drought, about which my grandfather was very concerned, though he didn't overtly show it. I knew then that climate change was gradually starting to impact our lives, and I wanted to be part of the solution.
One day, having gone through a number of articles on renewable energy solutions, I decided to present the idea of installing solar panels to my grandfather. To him, the idea was somewhat foreign at the time. How could metallic panels on the roof replace what he had relied on for so long ? Skeptical he was, especially because the idea of using the sun to generate electricity was far removed from the farm's traditional practices. However, he was wise and listened to my explanations; I showed him examples of other farms around the world using solar panels and thereby taking part in environmental conservation and cost reduction.After weeks of discussions, my grandfather agreed, and we began the implementation process. The first day the solar panels were installed was a turning point for me and in the history of the farm. It was not just the raising of the technology bar ; it was one sure step toward a sustainable future. I felt proud to be of service to positive change. The solar panels became a window to the future that allowed it to draw its power from a clean, renewable source while preserving the traditions of agriculture.
It is over time that the solar panels started flexing their benefit muscles. The farm now did not have to be at the mercy of the conventional sources of energy, and so we ran the irrigation systems on the power of the sun, as we did on the farm machinery, and even lit up the farmhouse with it. Instead of the kerosene lamps lighting up the old barn, now the barn was lit with clean solar energy. The transition wasn't so physical; rather, the farm seemed to breathe with a new spirit, combining tradition with innovation.What I had not anticipated was how this project would impact others. When visitors came to the farm, they would inquire about the solar panels and how they worked. My grandfather, who at first was unsure of things, proudly explained to them how the panels provided clean energy and helped protect the environment. He spoke of how it wasn't just a solution for today's needs but part of a higher vision toward sustainability.
Every time I saw it catching the sun's rays, converting them to power, it reminded me that I was part of something bigger. I think about future generations, my younger siblings, and the world they will inherit-with some substantial environmental difficulties. What began as a small undertaking on my grandfather's farm grew into a symbol of change, a good lesson in how innovation is preserved.
And in the end, I realized that change does not have to be about forgetting the past, but we can take a little of what's new and combine it with the old for something better. Solar panels weren't some modern contraption on an old farm; they became the balance between nature and progress, heritage with the future.
Today, while seeing the solar panels gleam in sunlight, it really strikes a chord that the journey of clean energy has been other than what it is: à personal journey of discovery, seeking solutions, and understanding that change must come piece by piece. Each of us can be part of the solution. These solar panels that became a part of our farm now became part of my personal story and my path to a more sustainable and conscious future.
About
My name is Yousra Addi, and I really care about climate issues and environmental sustainability. Growing up in Morocco, I have seen the effects of climate change first-hand on traditional farming methods. This led me to become an advocate for renewable energy solutions. The most recent project I worked on was implementing solar panels into my grandfather's farm, modernizing age-old traditions with today's technologies. By this, I want to convey a message of awareness about renewable energy as something very crucial in fighting climate change and saving biodiversity. One step toward sustainability means so much to the future of our planet.
