An EcoFarmers Discovery Chapter 10: ScienceWelcome to An EcoFarmer's Discovery: The Companion Podcast, where every Friday we dive deep into one chapter of Ewan Campbell's journey.You're invited to read along – get the audiobook via Spotify (search An EcoFarmer's Discovery) or grab it on Kindle – and explore each chapter with us as we unpack the stories, ideas, and principles of regenerative farming. A new episode drops each Friday, covering 26 chapters across 26 weeks.

In This Episode:

Chapter 10 dives into the “simple” observations that led Ewan to uncover one of the biggest missing pieces in modern farming: soil is electrically driven. By revisiting school science, comparing reactivity charts, and talking with engineers, Ewan realised why minerals move the way they do, why plants absorb nutrients in different ratios than the soil holds, and why water-soluble fertilisers often create more problems than they solve.

From potassium corrosion to aluminium toxicity, cation exchange capacity, humus, and seasonal electrical switches inside trees, this chapter exposes the hidden electrical currents that shape soil health, plant growth, animal performance, and even the weeds that appear on your farm. Once you understand the electrical language of nature, the whole system starts making sense.

We explore:
• Why nutrients flow through plants electrically, not by solubility
• How water-soluble fertilisers trigger animal health issues
• The real meaning of CEC and why humus transforms soil capacity
• How electricity reveals toxicity, mineral imbalance & soil weakness
• What poplar trees, Redwood giants & solar-charged greenhouses teach us about natural electrical flow

Packed with humour, clarity, and practical insights, this episode shows why understanding electricity in the soil changes everything about how we farm.

Follow along: Watch full episodes on YouTube and Spotify Video.
Useful links:
• Learn more at EcoFarm Aotearoa (efa.nz)

• Our FREE E-Book! HERE• Listen To An EcoFarmers Discovery:

Cyanobacteria: The Hidden Engine Driving Your Soil The EcoFarm Aotearoa Podcast (Ep. 10)

Most farmers know about clover, fungi, and fertiliser… but very few understand the microscopic lifeform that actually built the planet and is still driving soil fertility today. In this episode, Stephen and Ewan uncover the extraordinary role of cyanobacteria, the organisms that oxygenated Earth, created the first soils, and remain the biggest untapped force in New Zealand farming.

Building on last week’s conversation, we explore why farmers who understand cyanobacteria gain deeper topsoil, stronger nutrient cycling, explosive winter growth, and long-term fertility without expensive inputs. From tissue salts to nitrogen fixation, worm castings to carbon gains, this episode connects the smallest biology to the biggest on-farm results.

We discuss:
• Why cyanobacteria are the true “regenerating motor” of the soil
• How they build carbon, release nitrogen, phosphorus & sulphur, and deepen topsoil
• The mineral imbalance (silicon vs aluminium) that determines pasture vs weeds
• Why chemical sprays collapse soil biology and stop carbon from recovering
• How worms, tardigrades & microbes digest cyanobacteria into long-lasting humus

Hosted by: Stephen Brunton & Ewan Campbell
Powered by: EcoFarm Aotearoa – www.efa.nz

Our FREE E-Book!

https://www.ecofarmaotearoa.nz/download-our-ebook/

Listen To An EcoFarmers Discovery:

https://open.spotify.com/show/3wIgUUghlsKIje76E5tjBA?si=4caf7169d6eb4d97

Subscribe for weekly episodes exploring soil biology and regenerative farming solutions transforming the way we farm in New Zealand.

An EcoFarmer’s Discovery Chapter 5: Out of the Frying Pan and Into the Fire

Welcome to An EcoFarmer's Discovery: The Companion Podcast, where every Friday we dive deep into one chapter of Ewan Campbell's journey.

You're invited to read along – get the audiobook via Spotify (search An EcoFarmer's Discovery) or grab it on Kindle – and explore each chapter with us as we unpack the stories, ideas, and principles of regenerative farming. A new episode drops each Friday, covering 26 chapters across 26 weeks.

In This Episode:

In this episode of “An Eco Farmer’s Discovery,” Ewan and Stephen discuss the next big leap in Ewan’s farming story, leaving the flat peatlands behind and starting over on a rugged 200-hectare hill-country block in Waihi.

Trading the dairy shed for open pastures, Ewan discovers that the challenges of new land bring valuable lessons in observation, adaptability, and soil understanding. Between runaway tractors, waterlogged paddocks, and hard-earned experiments, this chapter is about learning by doing and letting nature become the teacher.

We explore:

• The move from dairy farming to beef and the freedom it brought

• Early lessons from farming on hill country and managing rainfall

• Using livestock to control weeds and improve pasture health

• The first on-farm fertilizer trials that sparked a lifelong curiosity

• Why soil biology, not chemicals, is the key to fertility

• Understanding that profit comes from balance, not production

• How turning mistakes into experiments shaped the EcoFarm philosophy

  
  

Full of humour, humility, and hands-on wisdom, this episode marks a turning point in Ewan’s journey, where his farm became his classroom, and his curiosity became his greatest tool.

Subscribe or follow to hear more from Ewan’s 26-chapter journey into natural farming wisdom from his book An EcoFarmer’s Discovery.

Watch us on video: Episodes are also published in full on YouTube and Spotify Video.

So, grab the audiobook on Spotify or Kindle and read along with each chapter as we expand, reflect, and add context.

Useful Links & Info
• Listen / read along on Spotify (Audiobook): An EcoFarmer's Discovery: How the Soil Really Works — available here: On Spotify

• Book / Audiobook details: check out the official page at EcoFarm Aotearoa (www.efa.nz)

What Really Saved My Cows

The EcoFarm Aotearoa Podcast (Ep. 5)

When 25-year-old Ewan Campbell faced a devastating facial eczema outbreak on his dairy farm, it nearly cost him everything. Cows were dying, money was vanishing, and the standard advice wasn’t working, until one old farmer’s suggestion changed everything: “Just put some lime on.”

In this episode, Ewan and Stephen revisit the story that shaped a lifetime of discovery. What began as a crisis became a turning point, revealing how soil health, not quick fixes, holds the true key to animal wellbeing and farm success.

We discuss:
• The shocking impact of facial eczema and how it nearly broke the farm
• The moment lime proved to be the unexpected cure
• Why soil balance and complete proteins matter more than chemicals
• How high nitrates and poor soil structure fuel disease
• Why prevention, not reaction, is the real solution

With honesty, humour, and hard-earned lessons, this episode unpacks how one farmer’s challenge became a breakthrough in understanding the deep connection between soil health, livestock vitality, and farming resilience.

Hosted by: Stephen Brunton & Ewan Campbell
Powered by: EcoFarm Aotearoa – www.efa.nz

Subscribe for weekly conversations exploring soil health, biology, and regenerative farming solutions.

An EcoFarmers Discovery Chapter 4: The Land Of Milk And Honey

Welcome to An EcoFarmer's Discovery: The Companion Podcast, where every Friday we dive deep into one chapter of Ewan Campbell's journey.

You're invited to read along - get the audiobook via Spotify (search An EcoFarmer's Discovery) or grab it on Kindle - and explore each chapter with us as we unpack the stories, ideas, and principles of regenerative farming. A new episode drops each Friday, covering 26 chapters across 26 weeks.

In This Episode:

In this episode of “An Eco Farmer’s Discovery,” Ewan and Stephen revisit the turning point where Ewan’s independence and his philosophy on farming truly began.

With his brother gone south, Ewan takes full ownership of the herd and begins questioning the endless grind of conventional dairying. Through long days, hot summers, and hard lessons, he discovers that more work doesn’t always mean more success.

We explore:

• The simplicity and success of a neighbouring “model farm”

• How overwork and high inputs trap modern farmers in debt and stress

• The shocking revelations from a maize seminar that changed Ewan’s thinking

• Why healthy soil and earthworm life are worth more than any chemical input

• How questioning authority (and asking the right questions) leads to real progress

• The moment Ewan decided to break free, sell up, and start again on new ground

Full of honesty, humour, and practical insight, this episode marks the moment Ewan stopped farming by convention and started farming by observation.

Subscribe or follow to hear more from Ewan’s 26-chapter journey into natural farming wisdom from his book An EcoFarmers Discovery.

Watch us on video: episodes are also published in full on YouTube and Spotify video.

So, grab the audiobook on Spotify or Kindle and read along with each chapter and listen or watch the episode after reading the chapter as we expand, reflect, and add context.

Useful Links & Info
• Listen / read along on Spotify (Audiobook): An EcoFarmer's Discovery: How the Soil Really Works — available here: on Spotify

Book / Audiobook purchase & details: check out the official page at EcoFarm Aotearoa www.efa.nz

Minerals For The Genetic Code

The EcoFarm Aotearoa Podcast (Ep. 4)

Minerals don’t just build soil, they build life.

In this episode, we explore how the arrangement of minerals forms the foundation of DNA, shaping the health of our soil, animals, and ourselves. From Walter Russell’s revolutionary “10 Octaves” concept to the surprising harmony between elements and biology, this conversation reveals the deep connection between soil chemistry, energy, and life itself.

We discuss:

• How minerals create the structure and rhythm of DNA

• Why too much of a “good thing” can throw everything off balance

• The real link between soil minerals and human or animal health

• How understanding harmony in nature outperforms chemical “sledgehammer” fixes

• Why a healthy environment is the key to genetic strength and farm resilience

  
  

With science, storytelling, and a touch of humour, this episode uncovers the elegant design of nature’s mineral code and how farmers can work with it rather than against it.

Hosted by: Stephen Brunton & Ewan CampbellPowered by:

EcoFarm Aotearoa - www.efa.nz

Subscribe for weekly conversations that explore soil health, biology, and regenerative farming solutions.

An EcoFarmers Discovery Chapter 3: Trying Times

Welcome to An EcoFarmer's Discovery: The Companion Podcast, where every Friday we dive deep into one chapter of Ewan Campbell's journey.

You're invited to read along - get the audiobook via Spotify (search An EcoFarmer's Discovery) or grab it on Kindle - and explore each chapter with us as we unpack the stories, ideas, and principles of regenerative farming. A new episode drops each Friday, covering 26 chapters across 26 weeks.

In This Episode:

In this episode of “An Eco Farmer’s Discovery,” Ewan and Stephen unpack a turbulent chapter in Ewan’s farming journey — one marked by hard lessons, brotherly banter, and a devastating outbreak of facial eczema.

We explore:

• The two-herd solution that kept family harmony (and sanity!) intact

• How facial eczema exposed deep issues in soil management

• Why short-term “Band-Aid fixes” like fungicides fail long-term

• The crucial role of lime in healing both soil and livestock

• How one student’s science project proved what the system ignored

• Real-world proof that regenerative methods dramatically reduce nitrate runoff

  
  

Through crisis, experimentation, and classic Kiwi humour, this chapter reveals how Ewan turned frustration into innovation — showing that nature’s solutions are often simpler, cheaper, and far more effective than we’ve been told.

Subscribe or follow to hear more from Ewan’s 26-chapter journey into natural farming wisdom from his book An EcoFarmers Discovery.

Watch us on video: episodes are also published in full on YouTube and Spotify video.

So, grab the audiobook on Spotify or Kindle and read along with each chapter and listen or watch the episode after reading the chapter as we expand, reflect, and add context.

Useful Links & Info
• Listen / read along on Spotify (Audiobook): An EcoFarmer's Discovery: How the Soil Really Works — available here: on Spotify

Book / Audiobook purchase & details: check out the official page at EcoFarm Aotearoa www.efa.nz

What Is An Atom, And Why Does It Matter: The Science Beneath It All (Ep. 3)

Episode 3:

Everything from the soil underfoot to the food on your plate starts with atoms. But how do these invisible building blocks actually shape the health of our land, animals, and ourselves?

In this episode, we explore how the tiniest particles in the universe form the foundation of farming, life, and balance. From the role of subatomic energy and magnetism to the biology of soil microbes and cyanobacteria, this conversation connects the dots between physics, nature, and everyday food production.

We unpack:

• What atoms and subatomic particles really are

• How minerals in the soil create harmony or chaos in plants and animals

• Why “more” isn’t always better when it comes to fertiliser

• The surprising connection between soil biology, DNA, and farm health

• How understanding atoms can make farming simpler, more natural, and more profitable

  
  

It’s part science, part philosophy, and a reminder that every great farm and every healthy ecosystem begins with the smallest things done right.

Hosted by: Stephen Brunton & Ewan CampbellPowered by:

EcoFarm Aotearoa - www.efa.nz 

Subscribe for weekly conversations that explore soil health, biology, and regenerative farming solutions.

An EcoFarmers Discovery Chapter 2: Time To fly

Welcome to An EcoFarmer's Discovery: The Companion Podcast, where every Friday we dive deep into one chapter of Ewan Campbell's journey.

You're invited to read along - get the audiobook via Spotify (search An EcoFarmer's Discovery) or grab it on Kindle - and explore each chapter with us as we unpack the stories, ideas, and principles of regenerative farming. A new episode drops each Friday, covering 26 chapters across 26 weeks.

Episode - Chapter 2:

In this episode of "An Eco Farmer’s Discovery," Ewan shares his eye-opening experiences as a young farmer spreading his wings — both figuratively and literally. 

From flying the family plane across the North Island to working the land in rural Britain, Ewan reflects on the lessons, observations, and cultural contrasts that shaped his unconventional approach to farming.

We follow his journey through:

• The early days of dairy farming in New Zealand

• Learning to fly and running the farm solo

• Working on English and Welsh farms and seeing striking differences in soil, grass growth, and farm culture

• Discovering the power of observation, timing, and community collaboration in agriculture

• First signs of deeper ecological patterns that would later guide his regenerative journey

  
  

Packed with humour, insights, and surprising anecdotes, this episode reveals how a curious young Kiwi began connecting the dots between soil health, farm systems, and what nature was quietly trying to show him all along.

Subscribe or follow to hear more from Ewan’s 26-chapter journey into natural farming wisdom from his book An EcoFarmers Discovery.

Watch us on video: episodes are also published in full on YouTube and Spotify video. 

So, grab the audiobook on Spotify or Kindle and read along with each chapter and listen or watch the episode after reading the chapter as we expand, reflect, and add context.

Useful Links & Info • Listen / read along on Spotify (Audiobook): An EcoFarmer's Discovery: How the Soil Really Works - available here: on Spotify

Book / Audiobook purchase & details: check out the official page at EcoFarm Aotearoa www.efa.nz

Nitrate Poisoning: Farmers Blamed, but What’s the REAL Cause?

The EcoFarm Podcast (Ep. 2)

Is nitrate really the villain behind blue baby syndrome, sick livestock, and rising cancer rates, or have we been pointing fingers in the wrong direction? In this episode, Ewan Campbell and Stephen Brunton dive into New Zealand’s nitrate crisis and ask the hard questions no one else will.

From Environment Canterbury’s recent “nitrate emergency” to the ongoing debate between professors and farmers, we unpack the real science behind nitrate poisoning, synthetic nitrogen use, and how it is impacting our water, soil, animals, and human health.You’ll discover: - The difference between nitrate and ammonia in healthy soil systems.

- Why livestock suffer from oxygen deprivation and what that means for methane production.

- How synthetic nitrogen and irrigation create toxic imbalances in our food chain.

- What “blue baby syndrome” reveals about our water quality

- Real on-farm results showing how regenerative practices can fix the nitrate problem quickly.

- This episode isn’t about blame. It’s about truth, responsibility, and practical solutions that start in the soil. If you care about clean water, healthy animals, and food you can trust, this conversation will change the way you see farming.

Hosted by: Stephen Brunton & Ewan CampbellPowered by: EcoFarm Aotearoa – www.efa.nz

Subscribe for weekly conversations that explore soil health, biology, and regenerative farming solutions.

#EcoFarmPodcast #NitratePoisoning #RegenerativeFarming #SoilHealth #BlueBabySyndrome #WaterQuality #SustainableFarming #FarmersVsScience #NitrogenPollution #NZFarming #EcoFarmAotearoa #HealthySoilsHealthyPeople

An EcoFarmers Discovery Chapter 1: The Philosopher’s Stone 

Welcome to An EcoFarmer's Discovery: The Companion Podcast, where every Friday we dive deep into one chapter of Ewan Campbell's journey.

You're invited to read along - get the audiobook via Spotify (search An EcoFarmer's Discovery) or grab it on Kindle - and explore each chapter with us as we unpack the stories, ideas, and principles of regenerative farming. 

A new episode drops each Friday, covering 26 chapters across 26 weeks.

Episode — Chapter 1:

The Philosopher’s Stone - In today’s first episode, we launch into Chapter 1: The Philosopher’s Stone - the idea that soil is more than chemistry, that there is a living intelligence, and that transformation in farming begins with seeing the invisible. We’ll discuss:

• What “The Philosopher’s Stone” metaphor means for farming and soil health

• How Ewan’s early observations shaped his thinking

• Why conventional approaches miss the living dynamics beneath the surface

• Practical implications: where do you begin to “tune into” the life of soil

Subscribe or follow to hear more from Ewan’s 26-chapter journey into natural farming wisdom from his book An EcoFarmers Discovery.

Watch us on video: episodes are also published in full on YouTube and Spotify video. 

So, grab the audiobook on Spotify or Kindle and read along with each chapter and listen or watch the episode after reading the chapter as we expand, reflect, and add context.

Useful Links & Info • Listen / read along on Spotify (Audiobook): An EcoFarmer's Discovery: How the Soil Really Works - available here: on Spotify

Book / Audiobook purchase & details: check out the official page at EcoFarm Aotearoa www.efa.nz

Can soil organisms really act like alchemists - transforming one element into another? In this episode, we dive into the fascinating and controversial work of French researcher Louis Kervran and his theory of Biological Transmutation. From unexplained shifts in calcium levels to the mysterious role of microbes and roots, we explore what this means for soil health, farming practices, and the future of regenerative agriculture.

👉 Could your soil actually be creating minerals out of thin air? Let’s find out.

🌱 What you’ll learn in this episode: What biological transmutation is and why it matters for farmers How Kervran’s equations connect with real-world soil health observations The debate between mainstream science and regenerative practice Practical farmer takeaways you can use right now

🎧 Good news—we’re now available on all leading podcast platforms! Take us with you while you’re out on the farm, in the tractor, or working with stock. Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major podcast players.

💬 Got soil stories or unexplained shifts in your tests? Share your experience in the comments—we’d love to hear from you.

Ecofarm Aotearoa is online at www.efa.nz

An EcoFarmer’s Discovery Chapter 9: Electrifying

Welcome to An EcoFarmer's Discovery: The Companion Podcast, where every Friday we dive deep into one chapter of Ewan Campbell's journey.

You're invited to read along – get the audiobook via Spotify (search An EcoFarmer's Discovery) or grab it on Kindle – and explore each chapter with us as we unpack the stories, ideas, and principles of regenerative farming. A new episode drops each Friday, covering 26 chapters across 26 weeks.

In This Episode:

In this electrifying chapter of An EcoFarmer’s Discovery, Ewan and Stephen explore the pivotal moment when a simple observation on the farm cracked open an entirely new understanding of how the land really works. After noticing kelp meal lining up perfectly in a bin, Ewan followed his curiosity into the worlds of paramagnetism, UV-reactive silica, natural electrical currents, and soil biology, uncovering a hidden layer of nature’s design that most farmers never see.

From conversations with electrolytic engineers to experiments with magnetite, marine silts, gemstone UV boxes, and multimeters in the paddock, Ewan discovered that the soil isn’t just biological, it’s electrical. This chapter reveals how sunlight, silica, magnetic fields, and paramagnetism interact beneath our feet, shaping plant growth, nutrient movement, animal performance, and even how shells break down on a beach.

We explore:

• How a strange alignment of kelp meal sparked an investigation into soil electricity
• Why magnetite, UV-reactive silica, and paramagnetic soils behave like a natural solar panel
• How electrical currents amplify mineral movement, plant growth, and even toxins
• Why superphosphate destroys the soil’s electrical potential and how to fix it
• The link between electrical fields, livestock performance, and human health

Full of discovery, honesty, and real-world experimentation, this episode captures the moment Ewan’s journey shifted from soil chemistry to the unseen forces that drive life itself and how understanding those forces reshaped everything he believed about farming. 

Subscribe or follow to hear more from Ewan’s 26-chapter journey into natural farming wisdom from his book An EcoFarmer’s Discovery.

Watch us on video: Episodes are also published in full on YouTube and Spotify Video.

Useful Links & Info

• Listen / read along on Spotify (Audiobook): An EcoFarmer's Discovery: How the Soil Really Works — available here: On Spotify

• Book / Audiobook details: Visit the official page at EcoFarm Aotearoa (www.efa.nz)

The EcoFarm Aotearoa Podcast has just dropped! Subscribe in your Podcast Player now so you can watch weekly episodes here on Youtube or listen out in the field on your podcast player.Subscribe today to the EcoFarm Aotearoa Podcast, launching Wednesday the 8th with new episodes twice a week.Available in video on YouTube and Spotify, and in audio on all major podcast platforms.Learn the science behind regenerative farming and practical steps to improve your soil, your stock, and your success.Get in Touch at www.efa.nz

Get subscribed now!
The EcoFarm Aotearoa Podcast officially launches Wednesday the 8th, with new episodes released twice weekly.

Join us on YouTube and Spotify for full video episodes, or tune in through all major podcast platforms for the audio-only experience.

Whether you’re out on the tractor, in the shed, or just curious about better farming, there’s something here for you. Listen for inspiration — or watch for the details.

Get in Touch with EcoFarm at www.efa.nz

Welcome to EcoFarm Aotearoa — practical conversations for real-world farming in New Zealand and beyond. Ewan Campbell turns good science into better practice: nitrate and water quality, soil biology, mineral balance, genetics, pasture growth, animal health, and profitability. Real stories, clear takeaways—ready for the ute, cowshed, or tractor. Subscribe in your favourite podcast app. Notes & links: efa.nz. (Hosted by Ewan Campbell, with co-host Stephen Brunton.)

The Carbon Trap: Why Pasture Renewal Is Costing You More Than You Think

The EcoFarm Aotearoa Podcast (Ep. 9)

Most farmers know carbon is important, but few realise just how fast it can vanish or what’s really driving the losses. In this episode, Stephen and Ewan break down a Grasslands Conference presentation by soil scientist Louis Schipper, and compare his findings with what’s actually happening on real farms.

From pasture renewal to maize cropping, chemical sprays to root systems, this episode takes you far beyond the theory. As Ewan explains, the numbers don’t lie, but the interpretation often does. Behind every carbon crash is a deeper biological story, and ignoring it costs farmers thousands in fertility, grazing, and long-term soil health.

Together, Stephen and Ewan unpack the hard science, challenge long-held assumptions, and reveal why cyanobacteria are the missing link in New Zealand’s carbon cycle. Once you understand how soil biology really works, everything changes: carbon stabilises, nutrients rise, organic matter builds, and paddocks recover faster than anyone expected.

We discuss:
• Why pasture renewal causes huge carbon losses — and why recovery often never happens
• How chemical sprays wipe out cyanobacteria and crash soil fertility
• Why maize looks great the first year but drains carbon for years afterwards
• The surprising role cyanobacteria play in nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulphur availability
• Practical steps Ewan uses to lift organic carbon by 1–2% a year without expensive inputs

With clarity, humour, and decades of hands-on fieldwork, Stephen and Ewan translate complex soil science into practical solutions any farmer can use. This episode connects research, real soil tests, and on-farm experience into a roadmap for restoring soil carbon the natural way.

Hosted by: Stephen Brunton & Ewan Campbell
Powered by: EcoFarm Aotearoa – ⁠www.efa.nz⁠

Subscribe for weekly conversations exploring soil health, biology, and regenerative farming solutions that are transforming the way we farm in New Zealand.

An EcoFarmer’s Discovery Chapter 8: Results On The Hoof

Welcome to An EcoFarmer's Discovery: The Companion Podcast, where every Friday we dive deep into one chapter of Ewan Campbell's journey.

You're invited to read along – get the audiobook via Spotify (search An EcoFarmer's Discovery) or grab it on Kindle – and explore each chapter with us as we unpack the stories, ideas, and principles of regenerative farming. A new episode drops each Friday, covering 26 chapters across 26 weeks.

In This Episode:

In this episode of An EcoFarmer’s Discovery, Ewan and Stephen explore the game-changing moment when Ewan discovered that mineral balance and soil health don’t just grow better grass, they grow better animals. What began as an experiment with kibbled maize and home-mixed mineral blends soon revealed remarkable weight gains, improved livestock health, and, eventually, premium-quality beef that stood out in the marketplace.

As Ewan followed his curiosity from the paddock to the meat works, he uncovered deeper truths about food quality, animal nutrition, and the broken systems that often hide the realities of modern meat production. From early frustrations with butchers swapping carcasses, to selling high-Omega-3 beef into top restaurants, this chapter unpacks how soil biology, animal health, and human health are all intertwined and why good farming begins long before an animal reaches the gate.

We explore:

• How early mineral experiments boosted weight gain and animal wellbeing
• What really determines tenderness, taste, and fat quality in beef
• The shocking inconsistency of traditional meat grading and processing
• Why grain feeding raises Omega-6 and how grass-fed CLA turns into Omega-3
• The link between soil nutrition, animal fat profiles, and human health
• The challenges of dealing with industry research, standards, and resistance
• How practical trial-and-error shaped the EcoFarm approach to meat quality
• Why farmers must lead innovation when institutions won’t

Full of humour, honesty, and decades of experimentation, this episode shows how real food quality starts in the soil, continues through the animal, and ends with healthier people and healthier farms.

Subscribe or follow to hear more from Ewan’s 26-chapter journey into natural farming wisdom from his book An EcoFarmer’s Discovery.

Watch us on video: Episodes are also published in full on YouTube and Spotify Video.

So, grab the audiobook on Spotify or Kindle and read along with each chapter as we expand, reflect, and add context.

Useful Links & Info
• Listen / read along on Spotify (Audiobook): An EcoFarmer's Discovery: How the Soil Really Works — available here: On Spotify

• Book / Audiobook details: check out the official page at EcoFarm Aotearoa (www.efa.nz)

What Your Weeds Are Saying | Part 2

The EcoFarm Aotearoa Podcast (Ep. 8)

When weeds explode across a paddock, most farmers reach straight for the sprayer. But as Ewan Campbell explains, every thistle, buttercup, dock, and gorse plant is actually doing a job and sending a message. From California thistles taking over dairy farms to ragwort covering entire hillsides, weeds aren’t the enemy… they’re indicators of deeper soil problems waiting to be fixed.

In this episode, Ewan and Stephen explore how weeds reveal the true condition of the land. Instead of fighting nature with chemicals, they show why the real solution lies in soil fertility, mineral balance, aeration, biology, and smarter grazing. What looks like a weed outbreak is usually a soil cry for help and once the limiting factors are corrected, the weeds simply disappear on their own.

We discuss:

• Why weeds don’t compete with healthy pasture once soil is corrected• How gorse, thistles, ragwort, buttercup, willow weed, and bristle grass each signal different mineral or drainage issues• Why chemical sprays create long-term soil damage and even more weeds• The role of biology, aeration, and cyanobacteria in fixing compacted or anaerobic soils• How livestock can be used strategically to control weeds without chemicals• Real on-farm before-and-after examples of weed-infested blocks turning into lush, productive pasture• The difference between constructive money and destructive money in farm management

With humour, clarity, and decades of hands-on experience, Ewan and Stephen reveal how regenerative farming turns weeds into teachers and how listening to them can transform your land far faster than spraying it.

Hosted by: Stephen Brunton & Ewan CampbellPowered by: EcoFarm Aotearoa – ⁠⁠www.efa.nz⁠⁠

Subscribe for weekly conversations exploring soil health, biology, and regenerative farming solutions that are transforming the way we farm in New Zealand.

An EcoFarmer’s Discovery Chapter 7: Going To The Source

Welcome to An EcoFarmer's Discovery: The Companion Podcast, where every Friday we dive deep into one chapter of Ewan Campbell's journey.

You're invited to read along – get the audiobook via Spotify (search An EcoFarmer's Discovery) or grab it on Kindle – and explore each chapter with us as we unpack the stories, ideas, and principles of regenerative farming. A new episode drops each Friday, covering 26 chapters across 26 weeks.

In This Episode:
In this episode of An EcoFarmer’s Discovery, Ewan and Stephen explore the pivotal moment when Ewan’s curiosity led him beyond the farm gate and straight to the world-renowned Brookside Laboratories in Ohio. Searching for real answers about soil biology and fertility, Ewan discovered a way to truly “read” the soil, unlocking a practical science that forever changed how he farmed.

Through insights from Dr. William Albrecht and his own hands-on testing, Ewan learned how every soil tells its own story and how New Zealand’s diverse volcanic landscape hides both challenges and incredible potential. Together, they unpack how science meets practicality, how “limiting factors” hold the key to productivity, and why true farming progress starts by going back to the source.

We explore:

• The journey to Brookside Labs and how it shaped EcoFarm’s testing philosophy

• The legacy of Dr. Albrecht and the science of balanced soils

• Why “if the book and nature disagree, throw away the book”

• What New Zealand’s diverse soils reveal about fertility and trace minerals

• The hidden relationship between soil health, animal health, and human health

• How practical, cold-face experience brings science to life

  
  

Full of humility, curiosity, and real-world learning, this episode shows how knowledge and observation can transform not only a farm, but the future of farming itself.

Subscribe or follow to hear more from Ewan’s 26-chapter journey into natural farming wisdom from his book An EcoFarmer’s Discovery.

Watch us on video: Episodes are also published in full on YouTube and Spotify Video.

So, grab the audiobook on Spotify or Kindle and read along with each chapter as we expand, reflect, and add context.

Useful Links & Info
• Listen / read along on Spotify (Audiobook): An EcoFarmer's Discovery: How the Soil Really Works — available here: On Spotify

• Book / Audiobook details: check out the official page at EcoFarm Aotearoa (www.efa.nz)

Weeds: What They’re Really Telling You About Your Soil

The EcoFarm Aotearoa Podcast (Ep. 7)

When weeds take over, most farmers reach for the spray. But what if every thistle, buttercup, or gorse plant is actually trying to tell you something? In this episode, Ewan Campbell and Stephen Brunton dig into the surprising truth about weeds, they’re not enemies of productivity, but messengers of the soil’s condition.

Through real on-farm stories and decades of regenerative experience, Ewan explains how weeds reveal underlying mineral imbalances, poor aeration, and biological breakdowns and how the right soil management can make them disappear without a single drop of poison. From “fixing the soil, not the weed” to using livestock as living tools for regeneration, this conversation turns conventional weed control on its head.

We discuss:

• How weeds reveal soil health, not failure
• Why chemical spraying makes soil problems worse
• The role of biology, minerals, and grazing in weed control
• Real examples of gorse and blackberry transforming into rich pasture
• How nature self-corrects when given the right conditions
• The philosophy behind constructive money vs. destructive money in farming

Full of practical wisdom, humour, and down-to-earth insight, this episode challenges the old mindset of “kill and control” — showing instead how healing the soil brings everything, even weeds, back into balance.

With humour, honesty, and decades of hands-on experience, Ewan and Stephen explore how solving facial eczema starts with healthy soils, balanced biology, and a shift in thinking.

Hosted by: Stephen Brunton & Ewan Campbell
Powered by: EcoFarm Aotearoa – www.efa.nz

Subscribe for weekly conversations exploring soil health, biology, and regenerative farming solutions that are transforming the way we farm in New Zealand.

An EcoFarmer’s Discovery Chapter 6: Where To From Here

Welcome to An EcoFarmer's Discovery: The Companion Podcast, where every Friday we dive deep into one chapter of Ewan Campbell's journey.

You're invited to read along. Get the audiobook via Spotify (search An EcoFarmer's Discovery) or grab it on Kindle and explore each chapter with us as we unpack the stories, ideas, and principles of regenerative farming. A new episode drops each Friday, covering 26 chapters across 26 weeks.

In This Episode:

Between exploding tallow drums, homemade schnapps, and explosive new ideas in soil health, Ewan recalls a chaotic yet pivotal period of his farming life. Surrounded by a tight-knit rural community, he began asking deeper questions about independence, soil fertility, livestock health, and questions that conventional wisdom couldn’t answer.

What starts as kitchen-table experiments with mineral licks and “crazy” homemade brews soon reveals powerful truths about biology, balance, and the interconnectedness of soil, plant, and animal health.

We explore:

• The hilarious and hazardous art of making homemade lick blocks (and why two of them exploded!)

• Lessons from a community where everyone farmed the same way and got the same average results

• How Peter Lester’s soil fertility insights set Ewan on a new path of discovery

• The surprising power of basic slag and the hidden role of silicon in soil fertility

• How mineralised cows doubled their market value and transformed animal health

• Why healthy soils lead to healthy animals and fewer “weeds”

• How observation, curiosity, and financial hardship forged the EcoFarm philosophy

  
  

Full of explosions, laughter, and light-bulb moments, this chapter captures the spirit of practical innovation. Where mistakes become experiments, and every setback sparks a new discovery.

Subscribe or follow to hear more from Ewan’s 26-chapter journey into natural farming wisdom from his book An EcoFarmer’s Discovery.

Watch us on video: Episodes are also published in full on YouTube and Spotify Video.

So, grab the audiobook on Spotify or Kindle and read along with each chapter as we expand, reflect, and add context.

Useful Links & Info
• Listen / read along on Spotify (Audiobook): An EcoFarmer's Discovery: How the Soil Really Works — available here: On Spotify

• Book / Audiobook details: check out the official page at EcoFarm Aotearoa (www.efa.nz)

Soil Health: The Real Cure for Facial Eczema

The EcoFarm Aotearoa Podcast (Ep. 6)

When a facial eczema outbreak tore through Ewan Campbell’s dairy herd in the late 1980s, it became a make-or-break moment on the farm. Cows were peeling, milk production was crashing, and the conventional advice—more zinc, more maize, more fungicides—wasn’t working. Then one old farmer offered the simplest, most game-changing advice of all: “Just put some lime on.”

In this episode, Ewan and Stephen unpack how a crisis in animal health revealed a deeper truth about soil. What started as a desperate search for a cure led to a breakthrough understanding: that facial eczema isn’t just a pasture disease—it’s a soil problem rooted in acidity, imbalance, and over-reliance on chemicals.

We discuss:

• The shocking reality of facial eczema outbreaks and why prevention starts underground
• How one “lime experiment” dropped spore counts from 300,000 to under 20,000 in days
• The hidden role of soil pH, nitrates, and fungal balance in livestock disease
• Why quick fixes like zinc and fungicides only mask the real issue
• The true cost of ignoring soil biology — in money, animal welfare, and mental strain
• Why farmers need to think critically, ask questions, and reclaim independence from “expert” advice

With humour, honesty, and decades of hands-on experience, Ewan and Stephen explore how solving facial eczema starts with healthy soils, balanced biology, and a shift in thinking.

Hosted by: Stephen Brunton & Ewan Campbell
Powered by: EcoFarm Aotearoa – www.efa.nz

Subscribe for weekly conversations exploring soil health, biology, and regenerative farming solutions that are transforming the way we farm in New Zealand.

Inside EcoFarm Aotearoa: Late Spring Open Day

The EcoFarm Aotearoa Podcast (Ep. 11)

Many farmers are feeling the pressure of rising fertiliser costs, tightening margins, and systems that no longer seem to deliver what they promise. In this Late Spring Open Day, Stephen and Ewan are joined by farmers, orchardists, and lifestyle block owners who are actively questioning the status quo and exploring what happens when you stop following the rulebook and start listening to the land.

Across paddocks, fences, and soil pits, the conversation moves from conventional inputs to biology, minerals, energy, and observation. This episode captures real questions, lived experiences, and practical insights from people transitioning away from chemical dependency and toward systems that build soil, support animals, and improve resilience over time.

We discuss:

• Why many farmers are rethinking fertiliser, sprays, and conventional advice
• How soil biology, minerals, and energy influence pasture, weeds, and stock health
• The role of silicon, calcium, copper, and carbon in building functional soils
• Why feeding the soil changes animal performance, meat quality, and resilience
• How observation, testing, and curiosity can replace costly guesswork

This episode isn’t about perfection or overnight change. It’s about learning, questioning, and building systems that work with nature rather than against it, one paddock, one decision, and one season at a time.

Hosted by: Stephen Brunton & Ewan CampbellPowered by: EcoFarm Aotearoa – ⁠www.efa.nz⁠

Our FREE E-Book!

⁠https://www.ecofarmaotearoa.nz/download-our-ebook/⁠

Listen To An EcoFarmers Discovery:

⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/3wIgUUghlsKIje76E5tjBA?si=4caf7169d6eb4d97⁠

Subscribe for weekly episodes exploring soil biology and regenerative farming solutions transforming the way we farm in New Zealand.

An EcoFarmers Discovery Chapter 11: Rock Hounds

Welcome to An EcoFarmer's Discovery: The Companion Podcast, where every Friday we dive deep into one chapter of Ewan Campbell's journey.

You're invited to read along – get the audiobook via Spotify (search An EcoFarmer's Discovery) or grab it on Kindle – and explore each chapter with us as we unpack the stories, ideas, and principles of regenerative farming.

A new episode drops each Friday, covering 26 chapters across 26 weeks.

In This Episode

Chapter 11, Rock Hounds, is where curiosity turns into full-blown experimentation.

Ewan unpacks what happened when basic slag disappeared from the fertiliser market, how silicon was quietly stripped from key inputs, and why farming systems began to unravel as a result. From disastrous springs and animal health breakdowns to sheep chewing clay banks and grass thriving where road dust falls, this chapter reveals how nature keeps leaving clues, if you’re willing to notice them.

This episode dives into silicon’s critical role in soil structure, animal health, plant strength, and mineral availability. We explore why weeds like thistles, gorse, and willow weed are not the enemy, but messengers, and how biology, electricity, and rock dust intersect in ways modern agriculture has largely ignored.

We explore:• Why removing silicon from fertiliser inputs caused widespread animal health issues

• How weeds act as remedial plants, restoring what soils are missing

• Why sheep chew banks, cows reach through fences, and grass thrives near roads

• The role of silicon in bone structure, plant strength, and soil resilience

• What marine clays, rock dust, and cyanobacteria reveal about soil electricity

• Why proper trials must start with a baseline — or they mean nothing

Packed with insight, humour, and hard-earned lessons, this episode reinforces a powerful theme: if the numbers don’t match what you see on the farm, the numbers are wrong.

Useful links:• Learn more at EcoFarm Aotearoa (⁠efa.nz⁠)

Our FREE E-Book!⁠⁠

https://www.ecofarmaotearoa.nz/download-our-ebook/⁠⁠

Listen To An EcoFarmers Discovery:⁠⁠

https://open.spotify.com/show/3wIgUUghlsKIje76E5tjBA?si=4caf7169d6eb4d97⁠⁠

Inside EcoFarm Aotearoa: Soil, Water & Herbage Testing
The EcoFarm Aotearoa Podcast

Testing is often discussed in agriculture, but rarely done in a way that truly guides decision-making. In this episode, Stephen and Ewan walk through the practical process of soil, water, and herbage testing, showing how accurate sampling, consistent GPS points, and year-on-year comparisons reveal what is really happening on a farm.

From collecting soil cores and tracking carbon through the soil profile, to interpreting herbage and water results alongside animal performance, this episode shows why testing works best when it is used to understand the whole system, not just individual numbers.

We discuss:• How to collect repeatable soil samples and why depth matters• What soil carbon, bulk density, and mineral balance reveal over time• How boron, calcium, silicon, copper, and zinc influence soil and pasture function• What herbage and water testing can tell us about animal health and nutrient flow

This episode is about learning to read your own farm, identifying limiting factors, and making informed decisions based on observation, data, and experience over time.

Hosted by: Stephen Brunton & Ewan Campbell
Powered by: EcoFarm Aotearoa – ⁠⁠www.efa.nz⁠⁠

Our FREE E-Book:
https://www.ecofarmaotearoa.nz/download-our-ebook/

Listen To An EcoFarmers Discovery:
https://open.spotify.com/show/3wIgUUghlsKIje76E5tjBA?si=c2fde76b54c44e62

Subscribe for weekly episodes exploring soil biology, testing, and regenerative farming in New Zealand.

An EcoFarmer’s Discovery Chapter 12: The Meat Producer

Welcome to An EcoFarmer’s Discovery: The Companion Podcast, where every Friday we dive deep into one chapter of Ewan Campbell’s journey.

You’re invited to read along. Get the audiobook via Spotify by searching An EcoFarmer’s Discovery, or grab it on Kindle, and explore each chapter with us as we unpack the stories, observations, and principles behind regenerative farming.

A new episode drops every Friday, covering 26 chapters across 26 weeks.

In This EpisodeThis episode focuses on the meat produced on Ewan’s farm, and what happens when animal health, soil function, and nutrition are aligned.

Ewan and the team unpack how changes in soil biology, mineral balance, and feed quality translate directly into the quality of meat leaving the farm. Rather than chasing premiums or labels, the focus is on producing food that is clean, nutrient-dense, and honest, with nothing to hide.

The conversation links soil testing, herbage testing, and animal observation back to real outcomes, including flavour, structure, shelf life, and consumer trust. It is a practical look at how farming systems show up at the end of the chain, on the plate.

We explore:• How soil health influences animal health and meat quality

• Why mineral balance and pasture diversity matter for livestock nutrition

• What herbage and soil tests reveal about feed quality

• The connection between clean systems and clean food

• Why producing good meat starts long before the animal is finished

This episode is about accountability, observation, and pride in producing food that reflects a well-functioning farm system from the soil up.

Follow along. Watch full episodes on YouTube and Spotify Video.

Useful links:• Learn more at EcoFarm Aotearoa (efa.nz)

Our FREE E-Book!https://www.ecofarmaotearoa.nz/download-our-ebook/Listen To An EcoFarmer’s Discovery:https://open.spotify.com/show/3wIgUUghlsKIje76E5tjBA?si=d5fd8cf669b14be0

Tissue Salts: Mineral Intelligence & Cell Function

The EcoFarm Aotearoa Podcast

Modern farming often treats symptoms instead of causes. In this episode, Stephen and Ewan dig into the mineral foundations that sit beneath soil health, plant function, animal performance, and ultimately human health. Starting at the single cell, they explore how functional minerals, biology, and electrical processes work together to create resilient systems that actually pay off financially for farmers.

The conversation moves from ancient science and tissue salts to modern soil testing, showing how cyanobacteria, microbes, and mineral organisation underpin productive land. Rather than adding more inputs, this episode focuses on creating the conditions that allow minerals to move, organise, and function correctly through the entire food chain.

From soil conductivity and mineral lock-up, to animal symptoms, plant signalling, and the role of seawater chemistry, this episode connects the dots between soil, water, herbage, animals, and people.

We discuss:

• Why healthy soil must be biologically active and electrically conductive
• The difference between raw minerals and functional mineral forms
• How cyanobacteria organise minerals at the cellular level
• Why fertiliser does not equal mineral intelligence
• How mineral imbalances express as plant stress and animal health issues
• The role of silica, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, and trace elements
• How testing soil, water, and herbage reveals limiting factors in the system

This episode is about understanding cause and effect, restoring mineral balance, and learning to work with natural systems rather than constantly reacting to problems. It is a deeper look at how reading the land properly leads to healthier farms and more sustainable outcomes.

Hosted by: Stephen Brunton & Ewan Campbell

Powered by: EcoFarm Aotearoa – ⁠⁠www.efa.nz⁠⁠

Our FREE E-Book:⁠https://www.ecofarmaotearoa.nz/download-our-ebook/

Listen To An EcoFarmers Discovery:⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/3wIgUUghlsKIje76E5tjBA?si=c2fde76b54c44e62⁠

Subscribe for weekly episodes exploring soil biology, mineral systems, and regenerative farming in New Zealand.

An EcoFarmer’s Discovery Chapter 14: The BeachThe EcoFarm Aotearoa Podcast

Welcome to An EcoFarmer’s Discovery: The Companion Podcast, where every Friday we dive into one chapter of Ewan Campbell’s journey.

Read or listen along by searching An EcoFarmer’s Discovery on Spotify, or find the book on Audible and Kindle. Each episode unpacks the stories and principles behind regenerative farming, with 26 chapters released across 26 weeks.

In This Episode
This episode covers Chapter 14 and explores the role of seawater, cyanobacteria, and marine minerals in soil, plant, animal, and human health.

Ewan reflects on the research of Dr Maynard Murray and others, drawing connections between ocean health, mineralisation, and biological function on land. The discussion explains why seawater cannot be replicated synthetically, how cyanobacteria underpin carbon accumulation, and why biology fails when exposed to chemicals and aluminium.

The conversation moves from theory to practice, covering early on-farm seawater trials, logistical challenges, mineral interactions, and surprising results such as explosive pasture growth and worm activity. The episode also touches on serpentine, historical fertiliser choices, and why relying on short-lived products can leave farmers stuck when tools disappear.

We explore:
• Why seawater is biologically alive and cannot be manufactured
• The role of cyanobacteria in carbon, soil structure, and nutrient flow
• Links between ocean health, soil health, and animal performance
• Seawater as fertiliser, fungicide, and biological inoculant
• Practical lessons from early trials and mineral interactions
• Why nature-based systems consistently outperform chemical fixes

This episode is about first principles, biological intelligence, and understanding that healthy farms, animals, and people all begin with functioning soil biology.

Follow along. Watch full episodes on YouTube and Spotify Video.

Useful links:
• Learn more at EcoFarm Aotearoa (efa.nz)

Our FREE E-Book:
https://www.ecofarmaotearoa.nz/download-our-ebook/

Listen to An EcoFarmer’s Discovery:
https://open.spotify.com/show/3wIgUUghlsKIje76E5tjBA?si=d5fd8cf669b14be0

An EcoFarmer’s Discovery Chapter 13: Products
The EcoFarm Aotearoa Podcast

Welcome to An EcoFarmer’s Discovery: The Companion Podcast, where every Friday we dive into one chapter of Ewan Campbell’s journey.

Read or listen along by searching An EcoFarmer’s Discovery on Spotify, or find the book on Kindle. Each episode unpacks the stories and principles behind regenerative farming, with 26 chapters released across 26 weeks.

In This Episode

This episode covers Chapter 13, Products, and how soil decisions shape real-world outcomes.

Ewan reflects on the rapid growth of his soil biology work and the challenges of scaling something entirely new. The discussion looks at knowledge transfer, burnout, and what happens when innovation moves faster than structure.

The conversation then turns practical, linking soil imbalance, mineral deficiencies, and chemical legacies directly to animal health, farm costs, and product quality. Ewan explains why fixing problems in the soil consistently delivers better results than treating symptoms in livestock.

We explore:• The challenges of scaling new ideas in farming• How mineral imbalances affect soil and animal health• Why soil solutions outperform animal supplements• The long-term impacts of chemicals like DDT and atrazine• How testing and observation guide better decisions• Why products reflect the health of the whole system

This episode is about learning from mistakes, taking responsibility, and understanding that farm products are built from the soil up.

Follow along. Watch full episodes on YouTube and Spotify Video.

Useful links:
• Learn more at EcoFarm Aotearoa (efa.nz)

Our FREE E-Book:
https://www.ecofarmaotearoa.nz/download-our-ebook/

Listen to An EcoFarmer’s Discovery:
https://open.spotify.com/show/3wIgUUghlsKIje76E5tjBA?si=d5fd8cf669b14be0

An EcoFarmer’s Discovery Chapter 16: The Problem of Success
The EcoFarm Aotearoa Podcast

This episode covers Chapter 16 and unpacks what happens when innovation works too well. Ewan reflects on the rise of Probitas, the backlash that followed its success, and the systems that move to shut down ideas that threaten entrenched interests.

In This Episode:Ewan shares the personal and professional fallout of challenging the fertiliser industry and regulatory system, including court cases, media manipulation, fear-based enforcement, and the misuse of “false and misleading representation” laws. The conversation reveals how innovation, when it disrupts powerful industries, can trigger intimidation rather than investigation.

This chapter explores how fear is used to control farmers, suppress discovery, and protect billion-dollar systems at the expense of soil health, food quality, and rural communities. From patents and expert witnesses to search warrants and media pressure, Ewan breaks down how the system operates and how farmers can begin to push back.

We explore:

• Why successful innovation attracts resistance, not support

• How fear keeps farmers compliant and isolated

• The misuse of regulation, courts, and “expert” authority

• What Probitas revealed about soil, electricity, and biology

• Why standing your ground matters for farming’s future

This episode is about courage over compliance, discovery over fear, and why the future of farming depends on farmers understanding both their land and the systems that govern it.

Follow along. Watch full episodes on YouTube and Spotify Video.

Useful links:
• Learn more at EcoFarm Aotearoa (efa.nz)

Our FREE E-Book:
https://www.ecofarmaotearoa.nz/download-our-ebook/

Listen to An EcoFarmer’s Discovery:
https://open.spotify.com/show/3wIgUUghlsKIje76E5tjBA?si=7f68bd8183ea46ae

An EcoFarmer’s Discovery Chapter 15: What Is This Shiny Stuff?
The EcoFarm Aotearoa Podcast

Welcome to An EcoFarmer’s Discovery: The Companion Podcast, where every Friday we dive into one chapter of Ewan Campbell’s journey.

Read or listen along by searching An EcoFarmer’s Discovery on Spotify, or find the book on Audible and Kindle. Each episode unpacks the stories and principles behind regenerative farming, with 26 chapters released across 26 weeks.

This episode covers Chapter 15 and explores the hidden structure of soil, aluminium toxicity, and why misunderstanding soil chemistry puts entire farming systems at risk.

In This Episode

Ewan explains why most farmers have never been taught what soil is actually made of, unpacking aluminosilicates, pH behaviour in volcanic soils, and how soluble aluminium quietly shuts down biology. The discussion introduces the importance of the SW07 soil test, why traditional fertiliser advice often makes problems worse, and how misreading soil data leads to escalating inputs and declining function.

The conversation connects soil chemistry to plant expression, human health, and historical fertiliser use. From hieracium infestations and shiny aluminium-loving plants to phosphate binding, silicon lock-up, and calcium availability, this episode shows how toxicity, not deficiency, is often the real issue.

We explore:• Why aluminium toxicity, not deficiency, shuts down soils

• How soil tests like SW07 reveal hidden system failures
• The link between aluminium, silicon, calcium, and phosphorus
• Why hieracium and “shiny” plants signal toxic conditions
• How sea minerals and biology help restart the soil system

This episode is about understanding structure over inputs, biology over chemistry, and why healthy soils depend on removing toxicity, not adding more product.

Follow along. Watch full episodes on YouTube and Spotify Video.

Useful links:

• Learn more at EcoFarm Aotearoa (efa.nz)

Our FREE E-Book: https://www.ecofarmaotearoa.nz/download-our-ebook/

Listen to An EcoFarmer’s Discovery: https://open.spotify.com/show/3wIgUUghlsKIje76E5tjBA?si=7f68bd8183ea46ae

The EcoFarm Aotearoa Podcast – Book Companion Series.This episode covers Chapter 18 and dives into one of the most misunderstood and powerful forces in farming: fungi. What begins with a moment of curiosity (and a fair bit of trial, error, and “stupidity”) quickly turns into a profound rethinking of how soil, plants, animals, and humans are all connected through biological digestion and nutrient cycling.Ewan and Steve unpack the early observations that sparked the chapter — ragwort pulling out effortlessly, worm activity exploding, and soil structure transforming almost overnight. From there, the conversation follows Ewan’s hands-on experiments with fish, fungal brews, and species-specific inoculation, challenging mainstream compost tea theory and the idea that all microbes are interchangeable. Rather than importing generic biology, the focus shifts to understanding which fungi belong where, and why protein-focused pastures require entirely different fungal relationships than forests.We explore:• How fungal activity radically changed soil structure and weed behaviour• Why “one-size-fits-all” microbes don’t work in agriculture• Fish, fungi, and the biology behind smell, digestion, and neighbour complaints• Fruiting bodies, stress signals, and what mushrooms really indicate• Higher-order plants, weeds as indicators, and speeding up natural successionThis episode is about shifting from control to process and why real progress in farming depends on working with biology, not against it.Follow along. Watch full episodes on YouTube and Spotify Video.Useful links:• Learn more / get the book: EcoFarm Aotearoa (efa.nz)• Our FREE E-Book: https://www.ecofarmaotearoa.nz/download-our-ebook/• Listen to An EcoFarmer’s Discovery:https://open.spotify.com/show/3wIgUUghlsKIje76E5tjBA?si=7f68bd8183ea46ae• Audiobook: Available on Spotify

Title: The EFA Comments Section Exploded - Ewan Answers everything

The EcoFarm Aotearoa Podcast

In this Q&A episode, Stephen and Ewan respond to listener questions covering soil minerals, silicon availability, nitrogen use, and electrical processes in farming systems. Grounded in observation and on-farm results, the conversation challenges conventional thinking and focuses on what consistently delivers healthier soils, resilient pasture, and better financial outcomes.

From cyanobacteria and mineral activation to fertiliser accountability and system feedback, this episode connects cause and effect across soil, plants, animals, and policy. Rather than reacting to symptoms, the discussion highlights the importance of accuracy, honesty, and addressing limiting factors within the system.

We discuss:

• Why observation and real-world results matter more than theory
• Silicon sources, activation, and the role of biology
• Nitrogen traceability, carbon loss, and diminishing returns
• How weeds and soil softness reveal underlying imbalance
• Reading land correctly to improve function and profitability

This episode is a practical look at how understanding mineral systems, biology, and electrical charge leads to healthier farms and more confident decision-making.

For a list of all the reference links on this episode, check out the description of the youtube video HERE

Hosted by: Stephen Brunton & Ewan Campbell

Powered by: EcoFarm Aotearoa – ⁠⁠www.efa.nz⁠⁠

Our FREE E-Book:
⁠https://www.ecofarmaotearoa.nz/download-our-ebook/⁠

Listen to An EcoFarmer’s Discovery:
⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/3wIgUUghlsKIje76E5tjBA?si=c2fde76b54c44e62⁠

Subscribe for weekly episodes exploring soil biology, mineral systems, and regenerative farming in New Zealand.

The EcoFarm Aotearoa Podcast - Book Companion Series.This episode covers Chapter 17 and revisits the moment the story burst out of the courtroom and into the public eye — when 60 Minutes turned up, asked the questions the system wouldn’t, and changed the game.Ewan and Steve unpack what it was like meeting Melanie Reid and her producer with healthy skepticism (the good kind), then watching the investigation unfold as she worked through the court documents and kept texting variations of: “You’ve got to be kidding me.” Unlike the courtroom, someone was finally listening — and verifying.The conversation explores the pressure that followed the Commerce Commission decision, the machinery that kicks in when a system decides you’re a “target,” and the real-world fallout: reputational attacks, enforcement that felt more like bullying than justice, and the cost of simply refusing to fold.From there, the episode widens out into the bigger theme behind the chapter: when communities stop standing up for themselves, systems drift from practical, local problem-solving into corporate gatekeeping, process for process’ sake, and authority without accountability. Ewan also shares how this experience pushed him into studying the law — not for revenge, but to understand how it works and how ordinary people can actually use it.We also touch on the irony (and the dark humour) of supplying premium meat to the very circles connected to the prosecution — plus a wild side-story involving BBC Radio 4, international demand, and how quickly opportunity can get shut down by bureaucratic interference.We explore:• How 60 Minutes got involved — and why skepticism mattered• What Melanie’s investigation exposed that court process didn’t• The aftermath: public pressure, enforcement, and the cost of holding your ground• Why it was never about “does it work?” — but about legal traps and narrative control• Gatekeepers, corporatisation, and why communities feel less able to act• The mindset shift: learning from losses, standing up, and staying productiveThis episode is about what happens when scrutiny finally meets power — and why progress (in farming or law) often depends on people being willing to take a few hits and get back up again.Follow along. Watch full episodes on YouTube and Spotify Video.Useful links:• Learn more / get the book: EcoFarm Aotearoa (efa.nz)• Full 60 Minutes segment + law resources: whoisthegovernment.comOur FREE E-Book:https://www.ecofarmaotearoa.nz/download-our-ebook/Listen to An EcoFarmer’s Discovery:https://open.spotify.com/show/3wIgUUghlsKIje76E5tjBA?si=7f68bd8183ea46aeAudiobook: Available on Spotify and Audible.

In this episode, Stephen and Ewan unpack what happens after soil health starts improving and why many farms hit a wall precisely when things should be working better. As regenerative systems begin to function, old habits, missing steps, and unseen limiting factors can quietly undo progress if the full process isn’t followed.

The conversation walks through EcoFarm Aotearoa’s start-to-finish methodology, explaining why accuracy, system thinking, and education matter more than quick fixes. From GPS-based soil testing and biological sequencing to EMF interference and boundary effects, this episode reframes farming as a new operating system, one that must be learned, not assumed.

We discuss:• Why soil success can create new problems if the process isn’t understood
• The “new car” analogy and why modern farming requires new operating rules
• How EMF interference can quietly shut systems down
• Why GPS accuracy and repeatability are non-negotiable
• Soil testing, herbage testing, and sequencing improvements correctly
• Boundary effects, power amplification, and protecting productive land
• Moving from consumables to long-term investment thinking

Using real farm examples, Ewan explains why powering up biology without addressing frequency, logistics, and process can amplify problems rather than solve them. Rather than chasing symptoms, the discussion focuses on removing guesswork, protecting gains, and building resilient systems that continue to improve year on year.

Hosted by: Stephen Brunton & Ewan Campbell

Powered by: EcoFarm Aotearoa – ⁠⁠www.efa.nz⁠⁠

Our FREE E-Book:
⁠https://www.ecofarmaotearoa.nz/download-our-ebook/⁠

Listen to An EcoFarmer’s Discovery:
⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/3wIgUUghlsKIje76E5tjBA?si=c2fde76b54c44e62⁠

The EcoFarm Aotearoa Podcast – Book Companion Series.
This episode covers Chapter 19 and dives into one of the most controversial and intriguing concepts in regenerative agriculture: biological transmutation. What sounds like alchemy becomes a practical exploration of how soil biology can transform elements, balance nutrients, and supply what plants and animals need without constant external inputs.

From kiwifruit orchards producing potassium without applications, to chooks laying hard shells without added calcium, Ewan and Steve challenge chemistry-only thinking and unpack the role fungi, bacteria, and even electrical stimulation play in nutrient cycling. At its heart, this chapter is about restoring trust in biology and questioning the systems that shut it down.

We explore:• What biological transmutation is and how it differs from conventional chemistry
• Orchard lessons from potassium cycling and the PSA wake-up call
• Bioremediation: how fungi and microbes break down toxins once thought permanent
• Why herbicides disrupt nutrient creation at its source
• How farmers can regain independence by working with biology, not against it

This episode is a reminder that nature already knows how to build, balance, and repair if we stop interfering long enough to let it work.

Follow along. Watch full episodes on YouTube and Spotify Video.

Useful links:
• Learn more / get the book: EcoFarm Aotearoa (efa.nz)
• Our FREE E-Book: https://www.ecofarmaotearoa.nz/download-our-ebook/

• Listen to An EcoFarmer’s Discovery:
https://open.spotify.com/show/3wIgUUghlsKIje76E5tjBA?si=7f68bd8183ea46ae

• Audiobook: Available on Spotify

In this episode, Stephen and Ewan sits down with Ross and Lance, who made a bold transition away from conventional inputs and into biological system thinking. What began with digging holes and finding no worms has evolved into a complete mindset shift, from chasing nitrogen and spraying weeds to rebuilding soil depth, animal health, and farm confidence.

The conversation follows their two-and-a-half-year journey, including the tough first 12 months, the drop in pasture production, and the turning point when animal health rebounded and costs began to fall. From reducing nitrogen from 150 units to just 5, eliminating Roundup and routine drenching, and watching worm castings return, this episode explores what really happens when you move from feeding plants to feeding soil biology.

We discuss:• Dropping nitrogen from 150 units to 5 and what happened next
• The first-year “shake” and why most transitions feel worse before they improve
• Animal health changes, milk urea pressure, and reducing nitrate stress
• Even grazing patterns, calmer cows, and fewer flies
• Cutting Roundup, urea, summer crops, and imported feed
• Herbage testing and understanding excess nitrogen in pasture
• Rebuilding red clover density and growing deeper topsoil
• Lifestyle shifts, lower health inputs, and regaining control of the farm
• Why solving problems through nutrition changes long-term outcomes

Using real on-farm examples, the discussion shows how shifting from a consumable input model to a soil-first biological system doesn’t just change pasture, it changes decision-making, confidence, and lifestyle. Rather than chasing symptoms with more product, the focus becomes removing limiting factors, stabilising biology, and building a system that strengthens year after year.

Hosted by: Stephen Brunton & Ewan Campbell

Powered by: EcoFarm Aotearoa – ⁠⁠www.efa.nz⁠⁠

Our FREE E-Book:https://www.ecofarmaotearoa.nz/download-our-ebook/

Listen to An EcoFarmer’s Discovery:https://open.spotify.com/show/3wIgUUghlsKIje76E5tjBA?si=b4aa009579a34ac1

The EcoFarm Aotearoa Podcast – Book Companion Series.

In Chapter 20 of The EcoFarm Aotearoa Book Companion Series, we explore the idea of structure, from the soil beneath our feet to the spine in our bodies. What begins with a conversation about jaw alignment and Western Price quickly unfolds into a much deeper discussion about how mineral balance, nutrition, and physical structure are inseparable. Whether it is calves developing broader heads after changes in soil management or the visible shift in posture through functional dentistry, the message is clear. Structure reflects health.

This episode moves between farm practice and personal experience, showing how addressing root causes rather than symptoms transforms outcomes. From soil tests and mineral corrections to foot alignment, spinal charts, and DNA sequencing, the common thread is foundation. When the base is right, resilience follows. When it is neglected, problems surface elsewhere. Farming, business, community, and human health all mirror the same principle.

We Discuss:

• How jaw alignment, posture, and mineral nutrition reveal deeper systemic health
• Why soil structure and mineral balance directly influence livestock development and behaviour
• The shift from treating symptoms to addressing root causes in farming and personal health
• Functional dentistry and skeletal alignment as examples of structural correction in action
• How nutritionally dense food begins with healthy soil and builds stronger people and communities

Hosted by: Stephen Brunton & Ewan Campbell

Powered by: EcoFarm Aotearoa – ⁠⁠⁠www.efa.nz⁠⁠⁠

Our FREE E-Book:⁠

https://www.ecofarmaotearoa.nz/download-our-ebook/⁠

Listen to An EcoFarmer’s Discovery:⁠ https://open.spotify.com/show/3wIgUUghlsKIje76E5tjBA?si=b4aa009579a34ac1⁠

In this episode, Stephen and Ewan challenge some of farming’s most accepted assumptions and ask a simple question: what if the math isn’t mathing? From nitrogen targets to phosphate “maintenance” rates, they unpack how industry norms became unquestioned truths and why many of them don’t hold up under first-principles thinking.

The conversation walks through real on-farm numbers, showing how excess nitrogen creates animal stress and runoff issues, and how phosphate applications often far exceed what actually leaves the farm. Rather than blaming cows or chasing production per hectare, this episode reframes the focus toward soil function, biological processes, and one metric that truly matters: profit per hectare.

We discuss:• Why 4–5.5% nitrogen in pasture may be fundamentally flawed
• How excess nitrate stresses cows and drives runoff into waterways
• The phosphate “maintenance” myth, and why 60kg may really be 6kg
• How industry paradigms prioritise inputs over farmer profitability
• Why profit per hectare, not production per hectare, is the real benchmark

Using practical farm examples, the episode demonstrates how testing, measurement, and simple calculations can dismantle long-held assumptions. When farmers understand the source of nitrogen and phosphorus flows they can reduce pressure, improve resilience, and regain control from systems that profit off complexity and confusion.

Listen to the full episode on SpotifyOr watch the full episode here:https://youtu.be/Qy0xz-ZVWmEOur FREE E-Book!https://www.ecofarmaotearoa.nz/download-our-ebook/Listen To An EcoFarmer’s Discovery:https://open.spotify.com/show/3wIgUUghlsKIje76E5tjBA?si=b4aa009579a34ac1⁠

The EcoFarm Aotearoa Podcast – Book Companion Series.

In this episode, Stephen and Ewan explore the hidden role of tissue salts and electrical nutrition in soil, plant, animal, and human health. Challenging conventional ideas about how minerals actually function within biological systems. The conversation connects cellular processes, soil biology, and farm management through one central idea: true fertility is biologically created, not chemically applied.

Rather than viewing nutrients as simply soluble inputs, this episode examines how minerals must be transformed through living systems to become electrically available and functional. From cyanobacteria and microbial activity to pasture growth and animal wellbeing, Stephen explains how soil biology creates the mineral “salts” that underpin resilience, productivity, and nutritional density.

The discussion moves beyond fertiliser recipes to a systems-based understanding of farming, where observation, biological function, and mineral balance replace product-driven decision making. Along the way, the conversation links soil health with food quality, farm profitability, and the long-term consequences of relying on soluble inputs.

We discuss:
• What tissue salts are and their role in cellular and soil function
• The difference between soluble nutrition and electrically available minerals
• How soil biology converts raw minerals into usable forms
• Why cyanobacteria and microbial systems drive farm resilience
• The connection between mineral balance, animal health, and food quality
• How product-focused agriculture replaced systems thinking
• Why profitable farming begins with understanding biological processes

Using practical farm observations and cross-disciplinary thinking, this episode reframes agriculture as a living electrical system, where healthy soils create healthier plants, animals, and ultimately people. When farmers shift from chasing inputs to supporting biological function, complexity reduces and independence increases.

Hosted by: Stephen Brunton & Ewan CampbellPowered by: EcoFarm Aotearoa – ⁠⁠⁠www.efa.nz⁠⁠⁠Link to our free ebook!https://www.ecofarmaotearoa.nz/download-our-ebook/ Listen to An EcoFarmer’s Discovery:⁠ https://open.spotify.com/show/3wIgUUghlsKIje76E5tjBA?si=b4aa009579a34ac1⁠

An EcoFarmer’s Discovery Chapter 22 Invisible Menace

Welcome to An EcoFarmer’s Discovery: The Companion Podcast, where every Friday we dive deep into one chapter of Ewan Campbell’s journey.

In this episode, Stephen and Ewan unpack Chapter 22: An Invisible Menace, exploring the concept of vibrational residues and the unseen energetic imprints left behind by agricultural chemicals and electrical infrastructure.

The conversation moves beyond chemistry alone, examining how soils that are rich in silica may act as memory systems, storing not just chemical residues but frequency imprints from past treatments. From hormone sprays like 2,4-D and legacy products such as DDT, to modern electrical systems, smart meters, and on-farm power infrastructure, this episode questions what remains long after laboratory tests say a paddock is “clean.”

Ewan shares firsthand experiences from his own farm, including unexpected tree deformities, livestock behaviour changes, and the discovery that increasing soil electrical activity amplified historical residues. What followed was a deep exploration into remediation from fungal “control alt delete” systems and mycelial networks, to paramagnetic and volcanic rocks placed on fences and earth systems to mitigate electromagnetic interference.

The discussion connects soil silica, electrical current, EMF, and biological function, drawing parallels between computers, memory storage, and living systems. Concepts such as homeopathy, radionics, resonance, and even quantum mechanics are examined through a practical farming lens, not as abstract theory, but as tools Ewan has tested in the field.

We discuss:
• What vibrational residues are and how soils may store frequency imprints
• The long-term effects of legacy chemicals like DDT and hormone sprays
• Why chemical breakdown does not necessarily mean energetic breakdown
• How increasing soil electrical energy can amplify hidden residues
• The role of fungal species as biological reset systems

Hosted by: Stephen Brunton & Ewan CampbellPowered by: EcoFarm Aotearoa – ⁠⁠⁠www.efa.nz⁠⁠⁠Link to our free ebook!https://www.ecofarmaotearoa.nz/download-our-ebook/Listen to An EcoFarmer’s Discovery:⁠ https://open.spotify.com/show/3wIgUUghlsKIje76E5tjBA?si=b4aa009579a34ac1⁠

In this episode, Stephen and Ewan move beyond “math busting” and into something even deeper: paradigm busting. What if the biggest barrier to regenerative farming isn’t nitrogen rates or phosphate targets, but the mental models farmers have inherited for generations?

From no-till myths to spray-first thinking, they unpack how industry narratives shape decisions long before a paddock is ever walked. The conversation challenges assumptions around cultivation, cover crops, soil disturbance, and diversity, revealing how some widely accepted “regenerative” practices may still be missing the biological foundation entirely.

At the heart of the episode is a simple but confronting truth: systems regenerate when biology regenerates. And biology doesn’t respond to labels like conventional, organic, or regenerative, it responds to mineral balance, carbon pathways, electrical charge, and living roots.

We discuss:

• Why regenerative farming is a system, not a label
• The myth that tillage destroys soil (and what actually does)
• Why spraying before cover cropping may undermine the whole goal
• How soil carbon really builds (and why sugar alone isn’t enough)
• The cobalt–B12 link and what a farm cat can teach us about deficiencies

Our FREE E-Book!https://www.ecofarmaotearoa.nz/download-our-ebook/Listen To An EcoFarmer’s Discovery:https://open.spotify.com/show/3wIgUUghlsKIje76E5tjBA?si=b4aa009579a34ac1⁠

An EcoFarmer’s Discovery Chapter 23 Forgotten Biology

Welcome to An EcoFarmer’s Discovery: The Companion Podcast, where every Friday we dive into one chapter of Ewan Campbell’s journey.

In this episode, Stephen and Ewan explore Chapter 23: Forgotten Biology, focusing on the overlooked role of cyanobacteria in soil health and agricultural systems.

Often misunderstood as toxic “blue-green algae,” cyanobacteria are usually associated with polluted waterways and animal poisoning events. But the discussion reveals a very different side to these ancient organisms, highlighting their powerful role in nutrient cycling, soil biology, and ecosystem regeneration.

Ewan explains how certain marine-derived cyanobacteria can function within soil environments, supporting biological processes that modern agriculture has largely ignored. The conversation challenges common perceptions and explores why many soils today may not be biologically balanced enough for these organisms to thrive.

By looking deeper into the relationship between ocean biology and land systems, the episode raises an important question: what critical parts of soil ecology have been forgotten along the way?

We discuss:• Why cyanobacteria are often misunderstood in agriculture• The difference between toxic blooms and beneficial soil species• How ocean-based biology can function in soil systems• Why modern soils may struggle to support these organisms• The potential role of cyanobacteria in regenerative farming

Hosted by: Stephen Brunton & Ewan Campbell

Powered by: EcoFarm Aotearoa – www.efa.nz

In this episode, Stephen and Ewan explore one of the most powerful forces shaping modern farming: mindset. While regenerative agriculture is often framed around practices like rotational grazing or reducing inputs, the real shift begins with something deeper, the willingness to question long-held beliefs about how farming “should” work.

The conversation unpacks how healthy soils drive resilient farms, explaining why livestock, microbes, minerals, and plant diversity must function as a connected system. From nutrient cycling and parasite resistance to drought resilience and carbon storage, the episode shows how regenerative outcomes emerge when soil biology is supported rather than forced.

Along the way, they challenge common assumptions about weeds, fertilisers, cropping systems, and animal health, revealing how many of agriculture’s biggest problems are actually symptoms of deeper imbalances in soil chemistry and biology.

We discuss:• Why livestock are essential for nutrient cycling in regenerative systems• The role of soil biology, fungi, and microbes in building humus• How mineral balance influences plant health and parasite resistance• Why weeds can be signals of missing nutrients in the soil• The difference between organic farming and regenerative outcome

Our FREE E-Book!https://www.ecofarmaotearoa.nz/download-our-ebook/Listen To An EcoFarmer’s Discovery:https://open.spotify.com/show/3wIgUUghlsKIje76E5tjBA?si=b4aa009579a34ac1⁠

In this episode, Stephen and Ewan are joined by a visiting farmer from Wales, offering a rare and powerful comparison between farming systems on opposite sides of the world. What starts as a simple farm visit quickly becomes something much bigger, as shared challenges, rising costs, and declining soil health reveal just how universal the pressures on modern farming have become.

Through open conversation, the episode highlights how different climates, systems, and markets still lead to many of the same problems, from weed pressure and input reliance to animal health and profitability. But it also shows something more important: the opportunity for change. As the Welsh farmer explores the EFA approach firsthand, it sparks a shift in thinking, one that could completely reshape the future of his farm.

Ewan brings valuable insight from the EFA perspective, breaking down how soil biology, mineral balance, and system-wide thinking can reduce costs, improve animal performance, and rebuild resilience. From milk quality and nutrient cycling to weeds as indicators of imbalance, the discussion offers practical lessons that extend far beyond one farm, showing how these principles can be applied anywhere in the world.

Along the way, the conversation challenges conventional approaches to fertiliser use, chemical inputs, and pasture management, revealing how many common farming struggles are symptoms of deeper issues in the soil.

We discuss:• What happens when farmers from opposite sides of the world compare systems• Why many farming challenges are universal, regardless of location• How the EFA approach can reduce costs and improve resilience• The link between soil health, animal performance, and product quality• Why weeds can signal deeper imbalances in the soil• The hidden impact of fertilisers and chemicals on long-term farm health• How shifting mindset can completely transform a farming system

Our FREE E-Book!https://www.ecofarmaotearoa.nz/download-our-ebook/

Listen To An EcoFarmer’s Discovery:https://open.spotify.com/show/3wIgUUghlsKIje76E5tjBA?si=b4aa009579a34ac1⁠

An EcoFarmer’s Discovery Chapter 24: A Ray of Light

Welcome to An EcoFarmer’s Discovery: The Companion Podcast, where every Friday we dive deep into one chapter of Ewan Campbell’s journey.

In this episode, Stephen Brunton and Ewan unpack Chapter 24: A Ray of Light, reflecting on the power of observation, the intelligence of nature, and the breakthroughs that come when farmers begin to trust what they see.

The conversation centres around a core idea: nature already has the answers — if we’re willing to observe, question, and step outside conventional thinking. From surprising on-farm discoveries like the role of fungi and even “magic mushrooms” in animal health, to the rapid recovery of pasture through biological processes, this episode highlights the turning point where challenges begin to reveal solutions.

Ewan shares practical insights from years of trial and error, showing how once hidden residues, soil imbalances, and biological disruptions can be addressed through natural systems. As these barriers are removed, farmers begin to see rapid improvements in pasture growth, animal health, and overall farm resilience — the “ray of light” that signals real progress.

The discussion also explores the mindset shift required in modern farming — moving away from reliance on external advice and toward confidence in personal observation, testing, and understanding. From field trials to farmer-led discoveries, this episode reinforces that some of the most powerful insights come directly from the land itself.

We discuss:
• Why nature always has the answers — and how to recognise them
• Surprising biological discoveries from real on-farm trials
• How fungi and natural systems help clean up residues
• The importance of trusting your own observations as a farmer
• Real-world examples of pasture and animal health improvements
• The mindset shift from dependency to true farm independence

Hosted by: Stephen Brunton & Ewan Campbell

Powered by: EcoFarm Aotearoa – ⁠⁠⁠www.efa.nz

⁠⁠⁠Link to our free ebook! https://www.ecofarmaotearoa.nz/download-our-ebook/

Listen to An EcoFarmer’s Discovery:⁠ https://open.spotify.com/show/3wIgUUghlsKIje76E5tjBA?si=b4aa009579a34ac1⁠

In this episode, Ewan continues the open day out in the paddock, diving deeper into the hidden influences shaping soil, plant, and animal health.

Set against a real-world farm backdrop, this part of the conversation explores some of the more complex and often overlooked factors in farming systems. From soil toxicity and mineral imbalances to the role of electromagnetic forces, Ewan demonstrates how unseen elements can impact everything from pasture growth to animal behaviour. Through hands-on demonstrations and farmer participation, the group is encouraged to question assumptions and observe how their environment is truly functioning.

The discussion moves beyond conventional inputs, focusing instead on understanding the “why” behind what’s happening in the soil. Farmers share their own experiences, challenges, and early results as they begin transitioning toward more regenerative approaches, highlighting the importance of curiosity, experimentation, and keeping an open mind.

This episode captures the reality of being in the early stages of change, where not everything is fully understood, but the willingness to observe, test, and adapt becomes the most valuable tool on farm.

We discuss:• How soil toxicity and past management practices continue to influence current systems• Demonstrations of muscle testing and farmer observations in the field• The potential impact of electromagnetic forces on soil, plants, and animals• Why mineral balance and deficiencies play a critical role in pasture performance• Real farmer experiences transitioning away from conventional practices• The importance of observation, skepticism, and open-minded learning• Early-stage insights into improving soil biology and long-term farm resilience

Our FREE E-Book!https://www.ecofarmaotearoa.nz/download-our-ebook/Listen To An EcoFarmer’s Discovery:https://open.spotify.com/show/3wIgUUghlsKIje76E5tjBA?si=b4aa009579a34ac1⁠

In this episode, Stephen and Ewan take us directly onto the farm for a live open day, where theory meets reality and farmers get to see regenerative principles in action.

Set in a hands-on, real-world environment, the conversation centres around what it actually looks like to transition from conventional thinking to a system that works with nature. As Ewan walks through the farm, he shares practical insights into soil health, pasture performance, and animal wellbeing. All grounded in observation, testing, and experience.

The open day creates space for discussion, questions, and shared learning, highlighting how powerful it can be when farmers step outside the textbook and start trusting what they see on their own land. From pasture diversity and mineral balance to animal behaviour and system resilience, this episode captures the importance of seeing the system as a whole.

More than just a farm walk, this is a mindset shift in motion, where curiosity replaces certainty, and real progress comes from understanding how everything connects.

We discuss:• What regenerative farming looks like in a real on-farm setting• How soil health translates into pasture and animal performance• The importance of observation and asking better questions• Why farm systems must be understood as a whole• Lessons and insights shared during the open day• How mindset shifts unlock real change on farm

Our FREE E-Book!https://www.ecofarmaotearoa.nz/download-our-ebook/Listen To An EcoFarmer’s Discovery:https://open.spotify.com/show/3wIgUUghlsKIje76E5tjBA?si=b4aa009579a34ac1⁠

An EcoFarmer’s Discovery Chapter 25: Fits Together

Welcome to An EcoFarmer’s Discovery: The Companion Podcast, where every Friday we dive deep into one chapter of Ewan Campbell’s journey.

In this episode, Stephen Brunton and Ewan unpack Chapter 25: Fits Together, exploring the powerful idea that true abundance in farming comes from understanding and working with the natural systems already in place.

The conversation centres around a key principle: when the right conditions are created, nature does the heavy lifting. From extraordinary examples of naturally fertile soils to the role of biology, minerals, and even electromagnetic forces, this episode reveals how all the pieces of the puzzle connect to unlock productivity and resilience on farm.

Ewan shares insights from decades of experience, explaining how soil health is built through observation, testing, and incremental adjustments, not quick fixes. From identifying limiting factors like trace element deficiencies, to reintroducing biology and allowing systems to function as intended, farmers can begin to see dramatic improvements in pasture performance, animal health, and long-term sustainability.

The discussion also dives into the deeper connections between soil, plant, animal, and human health, highlighting how factors like environment, nutrition, and even electrical signals influence outcomes in ways we’re only beginning to understand. At its core, this chapter is about stepping back, seeing the bigger picture, and realising that everything on the farm is interconnected.

We discuss:• What “abundance” really looks like in natural systems• How soil minerals, biology, and energy systems work together• The importance of testing, observation, and adapting over time• How environmental signals influence plant and animal performance• Why many modern practices limit true soil potential• The value of learning from nature, not fighting it

Hosted by: Stephen Brunton & Ewan CampbellPowered by: EcoFarm Aotearoa – ⁠⁠⁠www.efa.nz⁠⁠⁠Link to our free ebook!https://www.ecofarmaotearoa.nz/download-our-ebook/Listen to An EcoFarmer’s Discovery:⁠ https://open.spotify.com/show/3wIgUUghlsKIje76E5tjBA?si=b4aa009579a34ac1⁠