Episode Details

The Soil Sisters welcome one of their former coaches and teachers, Dr. Nelson Coulter, to the podcast to discuss his experience in Texas public schools. This discussion takes a ground-level look at changing school food systems and what becomes possible when communities prioritize health. Dr. Coulter explains the steps and bureaucracy involved in formally leaving the National School Lunch Program, the budget tradeoffs required, and why small districts can oftentimes innovate faster. The conversation covers what changed after the shift—less food waste, steadier energy and performance throughout the day, improved athletic practices, reduced after-school overeating at home, and better behavioral self-regulation—along with ideas for making healthier student meals feasible in all school districts. Dr. Coulter also shares how permaculture and regenerative practices shape his family’s ranch life, food production, and self-sufficiency. 

TIME STAMPS:

00:00 Welcome to the Soil Sisters Podcast

00:26 Meet Dr. Nelson “Coach” Coulter

01:31 Reconnected During a Regenerative Soil Textbook Delivery

03:42 Returning to West Texas & Rethinking What Schools Are For

07:47 Building the Guthrie Graduate Profile (soft skills over test scores) 10:02 Replacing Test Prep with a School Garden

11:58 Health Wake-Up Call: Educator & Student Wellness

19:37 First Steps to Healthier Cafeterias

26:36 Budgeting for Better Food

30:53 Divorcing the National School Lunch Program

36:20 Kids Actually Eat It: Cutting Food Waste With Real Lunches

38:43 From School Garden to Cafeteria: Harvesting, Preserving, Sharing 40:12 Is This Feasible for Average School Districts? Budgets, Policy Shifts & Nutrition Booster Clubs

44:40 Life on the Ranch After Retirement

54:57 What Changed in Students?

01:02:17 Closing Reflections: Gratitude, Guitar, Where to Read More & What’s Next

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