Interview: Christine Martin of The Regen Ranch (PART I)
Exploring the potential of native seed banks with a holistic land manager
Dear soil friends, happy new year! I’m thrilled to kick off 2025 by sharing a conversation with fellow dirt babe 🤎 and seasoned regenerative rancher and coach, Christine Martin.
I first attended one of Christine’s talks on Holistic Management in 2023 at the TOFGA Conference (Texas Organic Farmers & Gardeners Association—for which she’ll be the Keynote Speaker this year!). Even though I don’t manage livestock, I found myself voraciously taking notes—everything she shared clicked on such an intuitive level. The holistic framework she described felt like a bright guiding light for decision-making not only in land restoration but also quite likely for all of life’s complex challenges!
It wasn’t until I was scrolling Instagram after the conference that I realized Christine was the same woman behind @theregenranch account I’d been fan-girling over. When we finally connected in person at another conference later that year, I was struck by her warmth and generosity. She’s one of the first exemplary women I’ve had the pleasure of knowing in the regenerative space, and today, I’m beyond excited to share her brilliance with you all ✨
Our original intention for this chat was to discuss the concept of the native seed bank. But, unsurprisingly, our conversation meandered into the principles of holistic management, rich anecdotes from Christine’s experiences, and how these principles play out across different contexts.
Even for those who don’t ranch, I expect you’ll find thought-provoking takeaways from this conversation which I’m breaking up into two parts. Today in Part I we’ll dive into:
What is a seed bank?
To seed or not to seed land?
What are four ecosystem functions to guide us in stewardship?
A case for NOT starting with the most degraded part of your land
If you’d like to listen to this post, there is a text-to-read feature now in the Substack app!
Andie: Christine, thanks for being here! Let’s start with some fundamentals: How would you define a seed bank?
Christine: Plants have been growing on this planet long before humans existed, right?
Nature—whether you call it Divine Nature, Mother Nature, or something else—has a remarkable design. Everything works in harmony, with cycles and seasons: germination, growth, production, decay, and back again. Part of that cycle includes seeds being deposited into the soil, where they can germinate on their own when the conditions are right.
We see this all the time. For example, if you till or clear land, plants often sprout up—what we typically call weeds. But we didn’t plant those seeds; they were already in the soil. That’s the seed bank: the collection of seeds that naturally exist in the soil.
Some of those seeds can remain dormant for years, waiting for the right conditions. When we create soil conditions that support them, they’ll germinate and express themselves.
Andie: Why are native seeds often dormant and not growing across the land?
Christine: Many of us start out managing land that’s been heavily degraded, often due to extractive practices from previous management. If you’re lucky enough to inherit or purchase land that’s been well cared for, the potential for growth and regeneration can be much faster. But for most of us, we’re starting with land that’s in poor condition.
When land is degraded, the soil isn’t functioning in a way that supports thriving native flora and fauna. To activate the seed bank and support native species, we want to focus on restoring the 4 Fundamental Ecosystem Functions:
Water Cycle – movement of water from the atmosphere to the ground and back
Mineral Cycle – decomposition and the remineralization of organic material
Biological Communities – diverse, active populations on the land and in the soil
Energy Flow – namely photosynthesis and transforming energy from the sun into other forms that support life in an ecosystem
When these processes are functioning well, they enable regeneration and growth.
Andie: What advice do you have for those of us that are interested in evaluating these ecosystem functions?
Christine: It’s a great idea to monitor the 4 Fundamental Ecosystem Functions, I think of them as windows that give us a glimpse into the health of the greater, interconnected ecosystem.
💧Water Cycle: Start by examining ground cover—how much of your soil is covered with litter, mulch, plants, or grasses? How closely spaced are the plants?
If you see a lot of bare soil or capped soil, that’s a strong indication of an ineffective water cycle. Interestingly, the amount of bare soil is a key indicator for all four ecosystem functions!
💩 Mineral Cycle: Evaluate how quickly dead plant material decomposes on the ground.
Consider the brittleness of your environment, which depends on your region’s average annual rainfall and distribution throughout the year. For instance, central and west Texas are more brittle than east Texas, so decomposition will naturally be slower in those areas.
Livestock can also provide clues—how quickly does manure decompose? Rapid decomposition is a good sign of a healthy mineral cycle.
🪲 Biological Communities: Biodiversity is the primary metric here. Look for diversity among species and age of plants, animals and insects as indicators of an active biological community. The more diverse the ecosystem, the healthier the biological function.
☀️ Energy Flow: Think of green plants as solar panels. How much green material is present? For example, if a pasture is overgrazed and the plants are only a quarter of an inch tall, it’s capturing far less energy than a pasture with plants over a foot tall. Taller plants generate significantly more energy and support better energy flow through the ecosystem.
Andie: I really like the concept of energy flow. In crop farming, the popular cover crops are often short-growing so they don’t shade the food crop. But what if we created space in the management plan for larger “service” crops? These crops could not only provide cover but also generate significant energy for the system.
Similarly, in suburban and urban land management, we often prioritize short groundcovers for aesthetics or ease of maintenance. However, if we could designate areas for taller-growing grasses and forbs, they might stimulate ecosystem health in significant ways.
Christine: Yes, having a living root year-round allows plants to have broader leaves which allows for more energy flow. For example, where I've had the poultry tractors through, the grass leaves are taller and wider, allowing for more energy flow.
Andie: Do you have examples of seeding efforts that didn’t work out as planned?
Christine: Oh, absolutely! While I love the principles of regenerative agriculture, I’ve noticed that many people fixate on cover crops as a magical solution. The truth is, cover crops are a tool that can facilitate improvement, but they’re not a fix-all.
One example comes to mind. A couple I worked with purchased land that had recently been cleared of forest. Like many of us, they were excited about their vision and jumped straight into action. They purchased a lot of seed, planned to introduce multiple animals, and set out to transform the cleared forest into a pasture.
They quickly became concerned because, from their perspective, “everything that’s growing is poisonous.” I reassured them not to worry—what they had was still a diverse crop, and their animals would have options to self-select from. Many so-called “poisonous” plants are only harmful during certain growth phases, and animals are smart enough to know what they can safely eat, especially when they have options to choose from.
Still, they felt strongly that they needed to grow different plants to support the cattle and sheep they planned to purchase. They invested heavily in a diverse native seed mix that they intended to apply to nearly the entire ranch. We were in a drought and they didn’t have access to a no-till drill, so they resorted to broadcasting the seed. Unfortunately, their germination rate was almost nonexistent.
Andie: Can you explain the seeding methods you mentioned - no-till drilling and broadcasting?
Christine: Sure!
No-Till Drill: Think of this as a surgeon making a precise cut and sewing it back together. It places seeds directly in the soil with minimal disturbance. (By contrast, tilling would be like making an incision in your stomach and turning it inside out—ouch!)
Broadcasting: This method essentially involves scattering seeds using a funnel and a spinner that flings them across the ground.
No-till drilling is considered the ideal way to seed because it ensures seeds make contact with the soil and are protected from being blown away, washed away, or eaten by birds before they can germinate. However, broadcasting is often more accessible. The tradeoff is that broadcasting typically results in lower germination rates, as many seeds don’t land on the soil surface. Though, using a roller after broadcasting can help press the seeds into the soil, improving their chances of germination.
Andie: Would you say the broadcasting method was the main factor that led to low germination rates in this example?
Christine: The method of seeding was just one factor, the other main contributors were drought conditions and the fact that this land was recently forested.
As you know with the work you do, the soil was likely quite fungal dominant to have supported woody species, but they had seeded plant species that would prefer a relatively more bacterial soil. Put more simply and using the concepts discussed earlier, the biological communities in the soil were not aligned with the types of plants they wanted to grow.
This couple’s effort highlights an important lesson: even with the best intentions and significant investment, success depends on using the right tools and techniques for the conditions at hand (which are often unpredictable).
Andie: So, what happened next?
Christine: Well, they had spent 5 years planning for this ranching venture—they were determined to see their plan through despite the unforeseeable challenges of drought and poor germination. Their plan had included 20 head of cattle and 30 sheep so that’s what they purchased. And yet, there was not enough forage to support them, so they had to purchase a lot of hay to sustain the animals.
From a holistic management perspective, the framework asks: If we don’t have forage, should we be bringing animals onto the land? Wouldn’t it have been more prudent to defer purchasing livestock until spring, when the resources for food and water would be more abundant?
Andie: Following that thread of holistic management, would it also have been better to start with a smaller section of the land?
Christine: Your question touches on a key principle. Many of us are eager to improve the most degraded part of our land, but when we consider the psychological, economic, and environmental benefits (as a holistic approach prompts us to consider) it’s actually more effective to start by improving the best part of the land first, then move on to the next best area.
While the most degraded section might take years to address, by making significant progress on the areas that are in better shape, you’ll have the momentum of experience and funds to eventually take on that challenge.
The truth is it’s often incredibly discouraging for people when they pour resources into the most degraded land—especially if they’re new to land management. In holistic management, we encourage starting with the best areas because they offer quicker results. These early successes are motivating and insightful, building confidence for tackling more challenging areas later.
Andie: It feels like human nature to visually survey the land and want to start with the worst area, thinking we can have the most impact there. I’m sure there’s also a lot of ego and pride involved in our tendency to do this—the idea of having a dramatic "before and after" photo and story arc. It’s not as sexy to showcase a lower-risk, smart investment that generates the profit to support the next challenge on the land, even though that is clearly a more sustainable path!
Christine: Exactly, and the risk of burnout for new land managers is very high. I know several people who started ranching during the pandemic, and many are now giving up and returning to the city. They’ve either run out of money and need to go back to work, or they’re physically exhausted by the demands of the land.
But it doesn’t have to be this way. That’s why a holistic approach is so important—we need to manage not just for the environment or finances, but also for our quality of life, so we don’t burn out.
If your whole family is spending six hours a day on chores—three hours in the morning and three hours in the evening—it can become overwhelming very quickly.
Andie: Returning to the topic of seed banks—are there situations in ranching where actively seeding the land makes sense?
Christine: It depends!
We all have a seed bank in our soils. We need to manage the tools we have available to us (human creativity, money and labor, technology, animal impact/livestock, fire and rest) so that we improve the aforementioned ecosystem functions as this will increase the germination and productivity of the potential that already exists on the land.
Depending on the condition of the land, and the land steward's desired outcomes and risk tolerance, there may be situations where actively seeding the land makes sense for the land steward.
In my opinion, if you have a pasture and your goal is to establish a native prairie, adding cover crops doesn’t make much sense. While it may increase diversity, it doesn’t encourage the propagation of native seeds that are already present in the soil.
Andie: So you’re assuming the native seeds are already in the soil’s seed bank?
Christine: Exactly. When it comes to native grasslands, the return on investment from cover crops is much lower than simply managing livestock properly. Livestock can create the ideal conditions to stimulate native seed germination, especially through stock density and recovery time. For example, within just two years, I had Indiangrass germinate here on my land without having to seed it myself. I haven’t seen Eastern gamagrass yet, but I’m confident it will show up in time.
Andie: I’ve noticed some ranchers at conferences presenting on their approach of exclusively using cover crop seed mixes for warm and cool seasons to sustain their grazing livestock. What are your thoughts on that method?
Christine: Cover cropping is a tool among many, like hay, equipment, or livestock. One of the beautiful things about being human is our ability to mix and match tools to create solutions that fit our unique contexts and preferences.
When livestock are managed well in a system that includes cover crops, the risk of low germination rates decreases over time. That’s because the tool is being used effectively to improve soil health and the broader ecosystem.
However, success with this approach is not guaranteed, it all depends on the individual’s context, finances, and goals. For some, planting cover crops twice a year or more is feasible because their business model supports it. They’re able to sell their meat in a way that funds the ongoing purchase and application of seed. For others, they may not have the resources to purchase, transport, and spread seed nor manage the livestock appropriately in that context that results in financial, environmental and personal success.
That’s the beauty of the holistic approach - there is no one size fits all, there are pros and cons to everything and you have to find what works for you given your goals, resources, and personal preferences.
Andie: I love that there are different options and not a righteous sense of the best way. Instead, the best approach is the one that’s both feasible for the land steward and effective in restoring ecosystem functions.
Christine: Right, there are different ways to positively affect biodiversity and the water, mineral, and energy cycles while making it sustainable for the land manager.
That wraps up Part I of our conversation, friends! Next week, Christine shares the unforgettable moment she spotted the first native grass 🌾 on her ranch and explains how livestock play an integral role in the process. Plus, I’ll be sharing some of the practices I’m experimenting with in my suburban context that are inspired by holistic land management.
Connect with Christine
Christine Martin, Holistic & Regenerative Agricultural Coach
theregenranchconsulting.com | info@theregenranch.com | @regenranchconsulting
Upcoming Course for Beginners
4-Week Homestead, Farm, or Ranch Planning: Foundations for a Sustainable and Profitable Future
When: January 22 - February 12
Where: Virtual Course with Live Interactive Sessions
Description: A step-by-step course for first-time or aspiring landowners to create a clear, actionable plan for their homestead. Learn to define your vision, understand your land’s potential, and create a financial and land-use strategy that aligns with your values and ensures profitability. Avoid costly mistakes and build your dream property with confidence.