An EcoFarmers Discovery Chapter 4: The Land Of Milk And Honey
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:
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 stress
The shocking revelations from a maize seminar that changed Ewan’s thinking
Why healthy soil and earthworm life are worth more than any chemical input
How questioning authority (and asking the right questions) leads to real progress
The moment Ewan decided to break free, sell up, and start again on new ground
Full 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 Spotify
Book / Audiobook purchase & details: check out the official page at EcoFarm Aotearoa www.efa.nz
An EcoFarmers Discovery Chapter 3: Trying Times
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:
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!) intact
How facial eczema exposed deep issues in soil management
Why short-term “Band-Aid fixes” like fungicides fail long-term
The crucial role of lime in healing both soil and livestock
How one student’s science project proved what the system ignored
Real-world proof that regenerative methods dramatically reduce nitrate runoff
Through 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 Spotify
Book / Audiobook purchase & details: check out the official page at EcoFarm Aotearoa www.efa.nz
An EcoFarmers Discovery Chapter 2: Time To fly
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.
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 Zealand
Learning to fly and running the farm solo
Working on English and Welsh farms and seeing striking differences in soil, grass growth, and farm culture
Discovering the power of observation, timing, and community collaboration in agriculture
First signs of deeper ecological patterns that would later guide his regenerative journey
Packed 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 Spotify
Book / Audiobook purchase & details: check out the official page at EcoFarm Aotearoa www.efa.nz
Nitrate Poisoning: Farmers Blamed, but What’s the REAL Cause?
The EcoFarm Podcast (Ep. 2)
Is nitrate really the villain behind blue baby syndrome, sick livestock, and rising cancer rates, or have we been pointing fingers in the wrong direction? In this episode, Ewan Campbell and Stephen Brunton dive into New Zealand’s nitrate crisis and ask the hard questions no one else will.
From Environment Canterbury’s recent “nitrate emergency” to the ongoing debate between professors and farmers, we unpack the real science behind nitrate poisoning, synthetic nitrogen use, and how it is impacting our water, soil, animals, and human health.You’ll discover: - The difference between nitrate and ammonia in healthy soil systems.
- Why livestock suffer from oxygen deprivation and what that means for methane production.
- How synthetic nitrogen and irrigation create toxic imbalances in our food chain.
- What “blue baby syndrome” reveals about our water quality
- Real on-farm results showing how regenerative practices can fix the nitrate problem quickly.
- This episode isn’t about blame. It’s about truth, responsibility, and practical solutions that start in the soil. If you care about clean water, healthy animals, and food you can trust, this conversation will change the way you see farming.
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.
#EcoFarmPodcast #NitratePoisoning #RegenerativeFarming #SoilHealth #BlueBabySyndrome #WaterQuality #SustainableFarming #FarmersVsScience #NitrogenPollution #NZFarming #EcoFarmAotearoa #HealthySoilsHealthyPeople
Discovery Chapter 1: The Philosopher’s Stone 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.
Whether you listen while driving, on the tractor, or watch on YouTube/Spotify — we’re here with you.
Episode — Chapter 1:
The Philosopher’s Stone - In today’s first episode, we launch into Chapter 1: The Philosopher’s Stone - the idea that soil is more than chemistry, that there is a living intelligence, and that transformation in farming begins with seeing the invisible. We’ll discuss:
• What “The Philosopher’s Stone” metaphor means for farming and soil health
• How Ewan’s early observations shaped his thinking
• Why conventional approaches miss the living dynamics beneath the surface
• Practical implications: where do you begin to “tune into” the life of soil
• Questions we’ll carry forward as the journey continues Tune in as we set the foundation for the rest of our chapter-by-chapter voyage through An EcoFarmer’s Discovery. Useful Links & Info • Listen / read along on Spotify (Audiobook): An EcoFarmer’s Discovery: How the Soil Really Works - available here: on Spotify
• Book / Audiobook purchase & details: check out the official page at EcoFarm Aotearoa ecofarmaotearoa.nz
• Watch us on video: episodes are also published in full on YouTube and Spotify Video How to Get the Most from This Series
1. Grab the audiobook on Spotify or Kindle and read along with each chapter
2. Listen or watch the episode after reading the chapter - we expand, reflect, and add context
3. Pause to think about the questions we pose (or journal them)
4. Engage with us: send feedback, questions, or “aha” moments Reach out to us at www.efa.nz
Can soil organisms really act like alchemists - transforming one element into another? In this episode, we dive into the fascinating and controversial work of French researcher Louis Kervran and his theory of Biological Transmutation. From unexplained shifts in calcium levels to the mysterious role of microbes and roots, we explore what this means for soil health, farming practices, and the future of regenerative agriculture.
👉 Could your soil actually be creating minerals out of thin air? Let’s find out.
🌱 What you’ll learn in this episode: What biological transmutation is and why it matters for farmers How Kervran’s equations connect with real-world soil health observations The debate between mainstream science and regenerative practice Practical farmer takeaways you can use right now
🎧 Good news—we’re now available on all leading podcast platforms! Take us with you while you’re out on the farm, in the tractor, or working with stock. Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major podcast players.
💬 Got soil stories or unexplained shifts in your tests? Share your experience in the comments—we’d love to hear from you.
Ecofarm Aotearoa is online at www.efa.nz
The EcoFarm Aotearoa Podcast has just dropped! Subscribe in your Podcast Player now so you can watch weekly episodes here on Youtube or listen out in the field on your podcast player.Subscribe today to the EcoFarm Aotearoa Podcast, launching Wednesday the 8th with new episodes twice a week.Available in video on YouTube and Spotify, and in audio on all major podcast platforms.Learn the science behind regenerative farming and practical steps to improve your soil, your stock, and your success.Get in Touch at www.efa.nz
Get subscribed now!
The EcoFarm Aotearoa Podcast officially launches Wednesday the 8th, with new episodes released twice weekly.
Join us on YouTube and Spotify for full video episodes, or tune in through all major podcast platforms for the audio-only experience.
Whether you’re out on the tractor, in the shed, or just curious about better farming, there’s something here for you. Listen for inspiration — or watch for the details.
Get in Touch with EcoFarm at www.efa.nz
Welcome to EcoFarm Aotearoa — practical conversations for real-world farming in New Zealand and beyond. Ewan Campbell turns good science into better practice: 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. Subscribe in your favourite podcast app. Notes & links: efa.nz. (Hosted by Ewan Campbell, with co-host Stephen Brunton.)
