EcoFarm Aotearoa

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.

An EcoFarmer’s Discovery Chapter 8: Results On The HoofWelcome 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’tFull 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 2The 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 managementWith 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.nz⁠⁠Subscribe 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 SourceWelcome 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 philosophyThe legacy of Dr. Albrecht and the science of balanced soilsWhy “if the book and nature disagree, throw away the book”What New Zealand’s diverse soils reveal about fertility and trace mineralsThe hidden relationship between soil health, animal health, and human healthHow practical, cold-face experience brings science to lifeFull 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 SoilThe 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 failureWhy chemical spraying makes soil problems worseThe role of biology, minerals, and grazing in weed controlReal examples of gorse and blackberry transforming into rich pastureHow nature self-corrects when given the right conditionsThe philosophy behind constructive money vs. destructive money in farmingFull 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 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.

An EcoFarmer’s Discovery Chapter 6: Where To From HereWelcome 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 resultsHow Peter Lester’s soil fertility insights set Ewan on a new path of discoveryThe surprising power of basic slag and the hidden role of silicon in soil fertilityHow mineralised cows doubled their market value and transformed animal healthWhy healthy soils lead to healthy animals and fewer “weeds”How observation, curiosity, and financial hardship forged the EcoFarm philosophyFull 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 EczemaThe 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” adviceWith 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 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.

An EcoFarmer’s Discovery Chapter 5: Out of the Frying Pan and Into the FireWelcome 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 broughtEarly lessons from farming on hill country and managing rainfallUsing livestock to control weeds and improve pasture healthThe first on-farm fertilizer trials that sparked a lifelong curiosityWhy soil biology, not chemicals, is the key to fertilityUnderstanding that profit comes from balance, not productionHow turning mistakes into experiments shaped the EcoFarm philosophyFull 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 CowsThe 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 solutionWith 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 CampbellPowered by: EcoFarm Aotearoa – www.efa.nzSubscribe for weekly conversations exploring soil health, biology, and regenerative farming solutions.

An EcoFarmers Discovery Chapter 4: The Land Of Milk And HoneyWelcome 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 stressThe shocking revelations from a maize seminar that changed Ewan’s thinkingWhy healthy soil and earthworm life are worth more than any chemical inputHow questioning authority (and asking the right questions) leads to real progressThe moment Ewan decided to break free, sell up, and start again on new groundFull 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 SpotifyBook / Audiobook purchase & details: check out the official page at EcoFarm Aotearoa www.efa.nz

Minerals For The Genetic CodeThe 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 DNAWhy too much of a “good thing” can throw everything off balanceThe real link between soil minerals and human or animal healthHow understanding harmony in nature outperforms chemical “sledgehammer” fixesWhy a healthy environment is the key to genetic strength and farm resilienceWith 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.nzSubscribe for weekly conversations that explore soil health, biology, and regenerative farming solutions.

An EcoFarmers Discovery Chapter 3: Trying TimesWelcome 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!) intactHow facial eczema exposed deep issues in soil managementWhy short-term “Band-Aid fixes” like fungicides fail long-termThe crucial role of lime in healing both soil and livestockHow one student’s science project proved what the system ignoredReal-world proof that regenerative methods dramatically reduce nitrate runoffThrough 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 SpotifyBook / 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 areHow minerals in the soil create harmony or chaos in plants and animalsWhy “more” isn’t always better when it comes to fertiliserThe surprising connection between soil biology, DNA, and farm healthHow understanding atoms can make farming simpler, more natural, and more profitableIt’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 flyWelcome 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 ZealandLearning to fly and running the farm soloWorking on English and Welsh farms and seeing striking differences in soil, grass growth, and farm cultureDiscovering the power of observation, timing, and community collaboration in agricultureFirst signs of deeper ecological patterns that would later guide his regenerative journeyPacked 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 SpotifyBook / Audiobook purchase & details: check out the official page at EcoFarm Aotearoa www.efa.nz