EcoFarm Aotearoa

Ewan Campbell with co-host Stephen Brunton
  • 0.0 (0)
  • NATURE
  • UPDATED DAILY

From paddock to podcast, EcoFarm Aotearoa showcases Ewan Campbell, a respected name in NZ farming, known for turning good science into better practice. With co-host Stephen Brunton, Ewan unpacks his audiobook and the big issues: 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. Notes & links: efa.nz

  1. 2 DAYS AGO · BONUS

    Chapter 13: Products | An EcoFarmers Discovery Audiobook Companion Podcast

    An EcoFarmer’s Discovery Chapter 13: ProductsThe 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

    26 min

  2. 4 DAYS AGO

    Tissue Salts: Mineral Intelligence & Cell Function

    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.

    59 min

  3. 26/12/2025

    Chapter 12: The Meat Producer | An EcoFarmers Discovery Audiobook Companion Podcast

    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

    49 min

  4. 24/12/2025

    Inside EcoFarm Aotearoa: Soil, Water & Herbage Testing

    Inside EcoFarm Aotearoa: Soil, Water & Herbage TestingThe 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 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=c2fde76b54c44e62 Subscribe for weekly episodes exploring soil biology, testing, and regenerative farming in New Zealand.

    55 min

  5. 18/12/2025

    Chapter 11: Rock Hounds | An EcoFarmers Discovery Audiobook Companion Podcast

    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

    33 min

  6. 16/12/2025

    Inside EcoFarm Aotearoa: Late Spring Open Day

    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.

    1h 16m

  7. 11/12/2025 · BONUS

    Chapter 10: Science | An EcoFarmers Discovery Audiobook Companion Podcast

    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:

    37 min

  8. 09/12/2025

    Cyanobacteria: The Hidden Engine Driving Your Soil

    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 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.

    34 min
See All (29)

About

From paddock to podcast, EcoFarm Aotearoa showcases Ewan Campbell, a respected name in NZ farming, known for turning good science into better practice. With co-host Stephen Brunton, Ewan unpacks his audiobook and the big issues: 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. Notes & links: efa.nz

Information

  • Creator
    Ewan Campbell with co-host Stephen Brunton
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    29
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Ewan Campbell with co-host Stephen Brunton
  • Show Website
    EcoFarm Aotearoa

You Might Also Like