The Texas Soil Sisters, Joanna and Crystal Nuding, share their journey of embracing Holistic Management® to steward their family's fifth-generation cattle ranch in West Texas. Joanna's story begins in California, where she became inspired by regenerative agriculture through her work in the cannabis industry and her exposure to struggling family farms. A family land sale spurred her return to Texas to advocate for sustainable ranching. Crystal, a long-time advocate for organic gardening and soil health, joined forces with Joanna, inspired by books like Gabe Brown’s Dirt to Soil and courses on soil biology.

The sisters discuss the challenges of navigating generational dynamics, including gaining buy-in from their father and uncles, and the complexities of decision-making without full control of the land. Despite resistance, they’ve secured a lease for 30 acres and are implementing regenerative practices, such as planting cover crops and planning to collaborate with the new cattle herd owner. They highlight the importance of holistic goals, community support, and embracing experimentation as they restore degraded soil and create a model of thriving land stewardship in an arid region.

Throughout the conversation, the sisters emphasize collaboration, resilience, and the joy of working with nature. They also share aspirations for their ranch to become an oasis and a hub for education, inspiring other farmers and ranchers to transition to regenerative practices.

Connect with the Texas Soil Sisters:
Instagram: @soilsisterspodcast
Website: https://txsoilsisters.co

Connect with Christine Martin:
Instagram: @regenranchconsulting
Website: www.theregenranchconsulting.com
Email: info@theregenranch.com

As the lush growth of spring and summer gives way to the more dormant seasons of fall and winter, regenerative ranchers face the challenge of adapting their grazing strategies to continue supporting both land health and livestock performance. In this episode, I explore how the changing seasons influence our management practices and the critical shift from landscape-focused grazing to performance-focused strategies.

Key Topics Covered:

• The Dynamic Nature of Seasons: Understand the importance of observing and responding to the natural changes in the environment to maintain a sustainable ranching operation.
• Transition from Landscape to Performance Grazing: Learn how grazing management shifts focus from enhancing ecosystem functions in spring and summer to prioritizing livestock health and condition in fall and winter.
• Strategies for Effective Fall/Winter Grazing: Delve into practical strategies such as the use of stockpiled forage and the introduction of supplemental feeds to ensure that livestock maintain optimal health through the colder months.
• Adapting to Cool-Season Grass Dynamics: Discover how the emergence of cool-season grasses requires adjustments in grazing and recovery plans, and how managing these grasses effectively can enhance forage availability and pasture health during fall and winter.

Join me as I share how to navigate these seasonal shifts, ensuring that your grazing practices are not only adaptable but also aligned with the holistic goals of your regenerative agriculture operation.

In this episode, I introduce the Thriving Land Steward framework, a holistic approach rooted in the principles of Holistic Management®.

Discover how this framework guides land stewards in creating resilient, sustainable operations by crafting holistic goals, making aligned decisions, and embracing a mindset that views land, business, and personal well-being as interconnected.

Join me as we explore practical strategies for land planning, grazing, and business management, along with the essential role of community and personal resilience in building a fulfilling life on the land.

For more information, visit www.theregenranchconsulting.com