It's All Poetry

21: It’s not failure… we’re going “fallow” (with Sarah Loertscher)

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In this episode, I sit down with bookkeeper, jewelry designer, and budding mushroom farmer Sarah Loertscher, to explore the poetic (and yet also rather technical) word "fallow." Together, we unpack the complexities of creative rest, the shame often associated with taking breaks, and the natural cycles of productivity and regeneration.


In this episode you'll learn:

  • The etymology and varied meanings of "fallow," from its agricultural roots to its metaphorical applications in creative life
  • How to reframe periods of rest or non-productivity as necessary and natural, rather than as failure
  • The difference between choosing to go fallow and accidentally finding yourself in a fallow period
  • Why "quit" might be too harsh a word for creative pauses, and how "going fallow" offers a gentler alternative
  • The unexpected connections between farming, creativity, and personal growth
  • The challenge (and potential benefits) of doing absolutely nothing for two hours a day


    • Looking for more info about Sarah? Here's where you can find her:


    • Explore Sarah's jewelry work at sarahloertscher.com
    • Learn about her bookkeeping services at HeyPrism.com
    • Keep an eye out for updates on Cloverfield Farm, Sarah's mushroom farming venture
    • Connect with the It's All Poetry podcast team (i.e., Nicole!) at [email protected]
    • And sign up for weekly marketing prompts that don't feel gross at ⁠⁠nicolecopy.com/prompts
      • ...more
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      It's All PoetryBy Nicole Cloutier