What is Summerstir?

Summerstir is the traditional practice of letting a field lie dormant and allowing it to rest from being planted and tilled for a season, so the soil has a chance to replenish carbon and minerals. It is a term that we encountered when studying about practices in regenerative agriculture for maximizing carbon retention in the soil.

This term resurfaced in a discussion about recovering from job burnout. A trusted mentor reflected that sometimes we also need to take time to rest, like a field, in order to rejuvenate and become healthy and productive again.

Summerstir is a concept that informs our coaching, to guide us in helping people to optimize their productivity through reflection, rest, and discovering what elements of their lives will best promote their growth.