EcoFarm Aotearoa

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 communitiesHosted by: Stephen Brunton & Ewan CampbellPowered by: EcoFarm Aotearoa – ⁠⁠⁠www.efa.nz⁠⁠⁠Our 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 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 outcomesUsing 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 CampbellPowered by: EcoFarm Aotearoa – ⁠⁠www.efa.nz⁠⁠Our 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.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 itThis 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 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 thinkingUsing 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 CampbellPowered by: EcoFarm Aotearoa – ⁠⁠www.efa.nz⁠⁠Our 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 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 everythingThe EcoFarm Aotearoa PodcastIn 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 profitabilityThis 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 CampbellPowered by: EcoFarm Aotearoa – ⁠⁠www.efa.nz⁠⁠Our FREE E-Book:⁠https://www.ecofarmaotearoa.nz/download-our-ebook/⁠Listen to An EcoFarmer’s Discovery:⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/3wIgUUghlsKIje76E5tjBA?si=c2fde76b54c44e62⁠Subscribe 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.

An EcoFarmer’s Discovery Chapter 16: The Problem of SuccessThe EcoFarm Aotearoa PodcastThis 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 supportHow fear keeps farmers compliant and isolatedThe misuse of regulation, courts, and “expert” authorityWhat Probitas revealed about soil, electricity, and biologyWhy standing your ground matters for farming’s futureThis 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 PodcastWelcome 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 EpisodeEwan 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 systemThis 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

An EcoFarmer’s Discovery Chapter 14: The BeachThe EcoFarm Aotearoa PodcastWelcome 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 EpisodeThis 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 fixesThis 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: ProductsThe EcoFarm Aotearoa PodcastWelcome 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 EpisodeThis 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 systemThis 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

Tissue Salts: Mineral Intelligence & Cell FunctionThe EcoFarm Aotearoa PodcastModern 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 systemThis 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 CampbellPowered by: EcoFarm Aotearoa – ⁠⁠www.efa.nz⁠⁠Our FREE E-Book:⁠https://www.ecofarmaotearoa.nz/download-our-ebook/Listen To An EcoFarmers Discovery:⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/3wIgUUghlsKIje76E5tjBA?si=c2fde76b54c44e62⁠Subscribe for weekly episodes exploring soil biology, mineral systems, and regenerative farming in New Zealand.

An EcoFarmer’s Discovery Chapter 12: The Meat ProducerWelcome 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 finishedThis 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

Inside EcoFarm Aotearoa: Soil, Water & Herbage TestingThe EcoFarm Aotearoa PodcastTesting 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 flowThis 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 CampbellPowered by: EcoFarm Aotearoa – ⁠⁠www.efa.nz⁠⁠Our FREE E-Book:https://www.ecofarmaotearoa.nz/download-our-ebook/Listen To An EcoFarmers Discovery:https://open.spotify.com/show/3wIgUUghlsKIje76E5tjBA?si=c2fde76b54c44e62Subscribe for weekly episodes exploring soil biology, testing, and regenerative farming in New Zealand.

An EcoFarmers Discovery Chapter 11: Rock HoundsWelcome 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 EpisodeChapter 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 nothingPacked 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: Late Spring Open DayThe 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 guessworkThis 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.nz⁠Our 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 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 flowPacked 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 humusHosted by: Stephen Brunton & Ewan CampbellPowered by: EcoFarm Aotearoa – www.efa.nzOur 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 9: ElectrifyingWelcome 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 healthFull 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 Carbon Trap: Why Pasture Renewal Is Costing You More Than You ThinkThe 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 inputsWith 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 CampbellPowered by: EcoFarm Aotearoa – ⁠www.efa.nz⁠Subscribe for weekly conversations exploring soil health, biology, and regenerative farming solutions that are transforming the way we farm in New Zealand.