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 For the Love of 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.regenranchconsulting.com
Email: info@theregenranch.com