EcoFarm Aotearoa

Ewan Campbell with co-host Stephen Brunton
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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. 16 HR AGO · BONUS

    Chapter 19: Biological What!? | An EcoFarmers Discovery Audiobook Companion Podcast

    The EcoFarm Aotearoa Podcast – Book Companion Series.This episode covers Chapter 19 and dives into one of the most controversial and intriguing concepts in regenerative agriculture: biological transmutation. What sounds like alchemy becomes a practical exploration of how soil biology can transform elements, balance nutrients, and supply what plants and animals need without constant external inputs. From kiwifruit orchards producing potassium without applications, to chooks laying hard shells without added calcium, Ewan and Steve challenge chemistry-only thinking and unpack the role fungi, bacteria, and even electrical stimulation play in nutrient cycling. At its heart, this chapter is about restoring trust in biology and questioning the systems that shut it down. We explore:• What biological transmutation is and how it differs from conventional chemistry• Orchard lessons from potassium cycling and the PSA wake-up call• Bioremediation: how fungi and microbes break down toxins once thought permanent• Why herbicides disrupt nutrient creation at its source• How farmers can regain independence by working with biology, not against it This episode is a reminder that nature already knows how to build, balance, and repair if we stop interfering long enough to let it work. Follow along. Watch full episodes on YouTube and Spotify Video. Useful links:• Learn more / get the book: EcoFarm Aotearoa (efa.nz)• Our FREE E-Book: https://www.ecofarmaotearoa.nz/download-our-ebook/ • Listen to An EcoFarmer’s Discovery:https://open.spotify.com/show/3wIgUUghlsKIje76E5tjBA?si=7f68bd8183ea46ae • Audiobook: Available on Spotify

    27 min

  2. 2 DAYS AGO

    The Missing Step in Regenerative Farming

    In this episode, Stephen and Ewan unpack what happens after soil health starts improving and why many farms hit a wall precisely when things should be working better. As regenerative systems begin to function, old habits, missing steps, and unseen limiting factors can quietly undo progress if the full process isn’t followed. The conversation walks through EcoFarm Aotearoa’s start-to-finish methodology, explaining why accuracy, system thinking, and education matter more than quick fixes. From GPS-based soil testing and biological sequencing to EMF interference and boundary effects, this episode reframes farming as a new operating system, one that must be learned, not assumed. We discuss:• Why soil success can create new problems if the process isn’t understood• The “new car” analogy and why modern farming requires new operating rules• How EMF interference can quietly shut systems down• Why GPS accuracy and repeatability are non-negotiable• Soil testing, herbage testing, and sequencing improvements correctly• Boundary effects, power amplification, and protecting productive land• Moving from consumables to long-term investment thinking Using real farm examples, Ewan explains why powering up biology without addressing frequency, logistics, and process can amplify problems rather than solve them. Rather than chasing symptoms, the discussion focuses on removing guesswork, protecting gains, and building resilient systems that continue to improve year on year. Hosted by: Stephen Brunton & Ewan Campbell Powered by: EcoFarm Aotearoa – ⁠⁠www.efa.nz⁠⁠ Our FREE E-Book:⁠https://www.ecofarmaotearoa.nz/download-our-ebook/⁠ Listen to An EcoFarmer’s Discovery:⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/3wIgUUghlsKIje76E5tjBA?si=c2fde76b54c44e62⁠

    56 min

  3. 6 FEB · BONUS

    Chapter 18: Fungi The Fun Guys | An EcoFarmers Discovery Audiobook Companion Podcast

    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

    33 min

  4. 4 FEB

    Title: The EFA Comments Section Exploded - Ewan Answers everything

    Title: The EFA Comments Section Exploded - Ewan Answers everything The EcoFarm Aotearoa Podcast In this Q&A episode, Stephen and Ewan respond to listener questions covering soil minerals, silicon availability, nitrogen use, and electrical processes in farming systems. Grounded in observation and on-farm results, the conversation challenges conventional thinking and focuses on what consistently delivers healthier soils, resilient pasture, and better financial outcomes. From cyanobacteria and mineral activation to fertiliser accountability and system feedback, this episode connects cause and effect across soil, plants, animals, and policy. Rather than reacting to symptoms, the discussion highlights the importance of accuracy, honesty, and addressing limiting factors within the system. We discuss: • Why observation and real-world results matter more than theory• Silicon sources, activation, and the role of biology• Nitrogen traceability, carbon loss, and diminishing returns• How weeds and soil softness reveal underlying imbalance• Reading land correctly to improve function and profitability This episode is a practical look at how understanding mineral systems, biology, and electrical charge leads to healthier farms and more confident decision-making. For a list of all the reference links on this episode, check out the description of the youtube video HERE Hosted by: Stephen Brunton & Ewan Campbell Powered by: EcoFarm Aotearoa – ⁠⁠www.efa.nz⁠⁠ Our FREE E-Book:⁠https://www.ecofarmaotearoa.nz/download-our-ebook/⁠ Listen to An EcoFarmer’s Discovery:⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/3wIgUUghlsKIje76E5tjBA?si=c2fde76b54c44e62⁠ Subscribe for weekly episodes exploring soil biology, mineral systems, and regenerative farming in New Zealand.

    1h 22m

  5. 30 JAN

    Chapter 17: What On Earth | An EcoFarmers Discovery Audiobook Companion Podcast

    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.

    37 min

  6. 23 JAN · BONUS

    Chapter 16: The Problem of Success | An EcoFarmers Discovery Audiobook Companion Podcast

    An EcoFarmer’s Discovery Chapter 16: The Problem of SuccessThe EcoFarm Aotearoa Podcast This episode covers Chapter 16 and unpacks what happens when innovation works too well. Ewan reflects on the rise of Probitas, the backlash that followed its success, and the systems that move to shut down ideas that threaten entrenched interests. In This Episode:Ewan shares the personal and professional fallout of challenging the fertiliser industry and regulatory system, including court cases, media manipulation, fear-based enforcement, and the misuse of “false and misleading representation” laws. The conversation reveals how innovation, when it disrupts powerful industries, can trigger intimidation rather than investigation. This chapter explores how fear is used to control farmers, suppress discovery, and protect billion-dollar systems at the expense of soil health, food quality, and rural communities. From patents and expert witnesses to search warrants and media pressure, Ewan breaks down how the system operates and how farmers can begin to push back. We explore: Why successful innovation attracts resistance, not support How fear keeps farmers compliant and isolated The misuse of regulation, courts, and “expert” authority What Probitas revealed about soil, electricity, and biology Why standing your ground matters for farming’s future This episode is about courage over compliance, discovery over fear, and why the future of farming depends on farmers understanding both their land and the systems that govern it. Follow along. Watch full episodes on YouTube and Spotify Video. Useful links:• Learn more at EcoFarm Aotearoa (efa.nz) Our FREE E-Book:https://www.ecofarmaotearoa.nz/download-our-ebook/ Listen to An EcoFarmer’s Discovery:https://open.spotify.com/show/3wIgUUghlsKIje76E5tjBA?si=7f68bd8183ea46ae

    54 min

  7. 16 JAN · BONUS

    Chapter 15: Shiny Stuff | An EcoFarmers Discovery Audiobook Companion Podcast

    An EcoFarmer’s Discovery Chapter 15: What Is This Shiny Stuff?The EcoFarm Aotearoa Podcast Welcome to An EcoFarmer’s Discovery: The Companion Podcast, where every Friday we dive into one chapter of Ewan Campbell’s journey. Read or listen along by searching An EcoFarmer’s Discovery on Spotify, or find the book on Audible and Kindle. Each episode unpacks the stories and principles behind regenerative farming, with 26 chapters released across 26 weeks. This episode covers Chapter 15 and explores the hidden structure of soil, aluminium toxicity, and why misunderstanding soil chemistry puts entire farming systems at risk. In This Episode Ewan explains why most farmers have never been taught what soil is actually made of, unpacking aluminosilicates, pH behaviour in volcanic soils, and how soluble aluminium quietly shuts down biology. The discussion introduces the importance of the SW07 soil test, why traditional fertiliser advice often makes problems worse, and how misreading soil data leads to escalating inputs and declining function. The conversation connects soil chemistry to plant expression, human health, and historical fertiliser use. From hieracium infestations and shiny aluminium-loving plants to phosphate binding, silicon lock-up, and calcium availability, this episode shows how toxicity, not deficiency, is often the real issue. We explore:• Why aluminium toxicity, not deficiency, shuts down soils • How soil tests like SW07 reveal hidden system failures• The link between aluminium, silicon, calcium, and phosphorus• Why hieracium and “shiny” plants signal toxic conditions• How sea minerals and biology help restart the soil system This episode is about understanding structure over inputs, biology over chemistry, and why healthy soils depend on removing toxicity, not adding more product. Follow along. Watch full episodes on YouTube and Spotify Video. Useful links: • Learn more at EcoFarm Aotearoa (efa.nz) Our FREE E-Book: https://www.ecofarmaotearoa.nz/download-our-ebook/ Listen to An EcoFarmer’s Discovery: https://open.spotify.com/show/3wIgUUghlsKIje76E5tjBA?si=7f68bd8183ea46ae

    42 min

  8. 9 JAN · BONUS

    Chapter 14: The Beach | An EcoFarmers Discovery Audiobook Companion Podcast

    An EcoFarmer’s Discovery Chapter 14: The BeachThe EcoFarm Aotearoa Podcast Welcome to An EcoFarmer’s Discovery: The Companion Podcast, where every Friday we dive into one chapter of Ewan Campbell’s journey. Read or listen along by searching An EcoFarmer’s Discovery on Spotify, or find the book on Audible and Kindle. Each episode unpacks the stories and principles behind regenerative farming, with 26 chapters released across 26 weeks. In This 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 fixes This episode is about first principles, biological intelligence, and understanding that healthy farms, animals, and people all begin with functioning soil biology. Follow along. Watch full episodes on YouTube and Spotify Video. Useful links:• Learn more at EcoFarm Aotearoa (efa.nz) Our FREE E-Book:https://www.ecofarmaotearoa.nz/download-our-ebook/ Listen to An EcoFarmer’s Discovery:https://open.spotify.com/show/3wIgUUghlsKIje76E5tjBA?si=d5fd8cf669b14be0

    34 min
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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
    37
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Ewan Campbell with co-host Stephen Brunton
  • Show Website
    EcoFarm Aotearoa

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