EcoFarm Aotearoa

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.