EcoFarm Aotearoa

In this episode, Stephen heads to the West Coast for an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of the Reefton coal mine to see firsthand how mining by-products are transformed into valuable inputs for regenerative farming. Joined by the mine team, Stephen follows the journey from freshly mined coal through the wash plant, stockpiles, rehabilitation areas, and fertilizer blending operation, uncovering th...

In this episode, Stephen and Ewan are joined by Jimmy, a lifelong West Coast coal mining expert, to explore the surprising connections between geology, mining, soil health, and modern agriculture. What begins as a conversation about coal quickly expands into the history of New Zealand's geology, the science behind different coal types, mine rehabilitation, and how mining by-products are helpin...

In this episode, Stephen and Ewan are joined by Robin Claire, host of Cultivated Audio, for a fascinating conversation exploring soil health, regenerative agriculture, and the hidden forces shaping the future of farming. What begins as a discussion around farming systems and mineral balancing expands into a deeper exploration of soil biology, electrical conductivity, microbial life, livestock heal...

In this episode, Stephen and Ewan unpack the controversy surrounding a proposed $3 billion lignite-to-fertiliser plant in Southland, New Zealand, and ask a bigger question: why are we investing billions into synthetic nitrogen production when healthy soils already produce nitrogen naturally? What begins as a discussion around fertiliser security and global supply chains quickly becomes a deep dive...

In this episode, Stephen and Ewan explore the forces shaping modern agriculture and ask a challenging question: are farmers really in control of their own industry? From farm plans and environmental compliance to organic markets, profitability, carbon, and industry influence, the conversation examines how farmers can use testing, observation, and real-world results to make better decisions for the...

In this episode, Stephen and Ewan explore one of the most overlooked yet important drivers of soil health: cyanobacteria. What starts as a discussion around regenerative farming, cover crops, and soil carbon quickly expands into a deep dive on soil biology, nutrient cycling, trace minerals, plant health, animal health, and the hidden processes that build productive farming systems from the ground...

In this episode, Stephen and Ewan explore the changing landscape of New Zealand agriculture, from the traditions of Gypsy Week and share milking to the growing pressures facing modern farmers. The conversation dives into farm profitability, organic opportunities, soil health, environmental compliance, and the importance of producing high-quality food for premium markets. Ewan challenges convention...

In this episode, Stephen and Ewan sit down with John Carapiet from GE Free New Zealand to unpack the growing debate around genetic engineering, GMO regulation, and the future of farming in New Zealand. What begins as a discussion around the government’s proposed Gene Technology Bill and the new Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Amendment Bill quickly expands into a much bigger conversation ab...

In this episode, Stephen, Ewan, and special guest Rensha Bouwer unpack the growing disconnect between food production, food quality, and the systems that sit between farmers and consumers. What begins as a conversation around award-winning pies, artisan cheese, and sourcing quality ingredients quickly reveals a much deeper issue: many of the best food producers and farmers are trapped inside commo...

In this episode, Stephen and Ewan unpack the hidden potential within our soils and challenge the conventional approach to fertility, pH, and input-heavy farming. What begins as a discussion on soil chemistry reveals a deeper issue: farmers are often managing only what’s immediately available, rather than unlocking the vast reserves already present in the soil. Through the EFA lens, the conversatio...

An EcoFarmer’s Discovery Chapter 28: Reality Check Thank you for listening to An EcoFarmer’s Discovery: The Companion Podcast, this is the final Ewan Campbell’s journey throughout the book. In this episode, Stephen Brunton and Ewan unpack the final chapter of the book, Chapter 28: Reality Check, bringing the series to a grounded and thought-provoking close. This conversation steps back from theory...

In this episode, Stephen and Ewan unpack the growing tension between water quality, farm profitability, and the long-standing reliance on synthetic inputs. What starts as a conversation about environmental pressure quickly reveals a deeper issue, farm systems that are quietly depleting their own soil capital over time. Through real on-farm numbers and practical examples, Ewan breaks down how decad...

An EcoFarmer’s Discovery Chapter 27: Environmental Issues Welcome to An EcoFarmer’s Discovery: The Companion Podcast , where every Friday we dive deep into one chapter of Ewan Campbell’s journey. In this episode, Stephen Brunton and Ewan unpack Chapter 27: Environmental Issues , bringing the series to a powerful and challenging close. The conversation centres around one of the biggest topics in mo...

An EcoFarmer’s Discovery Chapter 26: The Last Chapter? Welcome to An EcoFarmer’s Discovery: The Companion Podcast , where every Friday we dive deep into one chapter of Ewan Campbell’s journey. In this episode, Stephen Brunton and Ewan unpack Chapter 26: The Last Chapter? , stepping into one of the most challenging and thought-provoking ideas in the entire series. The conversation explores the conc...

In this episode, Stephen and Ewan dive into the growing fuel and fertiliser crisis and what it really means for modern farming. As costs rise and pressure builds, the conversation uncovers a deeper issue: the heavy reliance on nitrogen fertiliser as an energy product, leaving farmers exposed to global oil markets. What seems like a pricing problem quickly reveals itself as a system-wide challenge...

In this episode, Ewan continues the open day out in the paddock, diving deeper into the hidden influences shaping soil, plant, and animal health. Set against a real-world farm backdrop, this part of the conversation explores some of the more complex and often overlooked factors in farming systems. From soil toxicity and mineral imbalances to the role of electromagnetic forces, Ewan demonstrates ho...

In this episode, Stephen and Ewan take us directly onto the farm for a live open day, where theory meets reality and farmers get to see regenerative principles in action. Set in a hands-on, real-world environment, the conversation centres around what it actually looks like to transition from conventional thinking to a system that works with nature. As Ewan walks through the farm, he shares practic...

An EcoFarmer’s Discovery Chapter 25: Fits Together Welcome to An EcoFarmer’s Discovery: The Companion Podcast , where every Friday we dive deep into one chapter of Ewan Campbell’s journey. In this episode, Stephen Brunton and Ewan unpack Chapter 25: Fits Together , exploring the powerful idea that true abundance in farming comes from understanding and working with the natural systems already in pl...

In this episode, we hear directly from a fourth-generation farmer who is transitioning away from conventional, chemical-based agriculture and into a regenerative system, while building a premium food brand alongside it. After years of dealing with rising input costs, fertiliser reliance, and commodity pricing pressure, he began questioning the system. What followed was a shift toward regenerative...

An EcoFarmer’s Discovery Chapter 24: A Ray of Light Welcome to An EcoFarmer’s Discovery: The Companion Podcast , where every Friday we dive deep into one chapter of Ewan Campbell’s journey. In this episode, Stephen Brunton and Ewan unpack Chapter 24: A Ray of Light , reflecting on the power of observation, the intelligence of nature, and the breakthroughs that come when farmers begin to trust what...

In this episode, Stephen and Ewan are joined by a visiting farmer from Wales, offering a rare and powerful comparison between farming systems on opposite sides of the world. What starts as a simple farm visit quickly becomes something much bigger, as shared challenges, rising costs, and declining soil health reveal just how universal the pressures on modern farming have become. Through open conver...

An EcoFarmer’s Discovery Chapter 23 Forgotten Biology Welcome to An EcoFarmer’s Discovery: The Companion Podcast , where every Friday we dive into one chapter of Ewan Campbell’s journey. In this episode, Stephen and Ewan explore Chapter 23: Forgotten Biology , focusing on the overlooked role of cyanobacteria in soil health and agricultural systems. Often misunderstood as toxic “blue-green algae,”...

In this episode, Stephen and Ewan explore one of the most powerful forces shaping modern farming: mindset. While regenerative agriculture is often framed around practices like rotational grazing or reducing inputs, the real shift begins with something deeper, the willingness to question long-held beliefs about how farming “should” work. The conversation unpacks how healthy soils drive resilient fa...

An EcoFarmer’s Discovery Chapter 22 Invisible Menace Welcome to An EcoFarmer’s Discovery: The Companion Podcast, where every Friday we dive deep into one chapter of Ewan Campbell’s journey. In this episode, Stephen and Ewan unpack Chapter 22: An Invisible Menace , exploring the concept of vibrational residues and the unseen energetic imprints left behind by agricultural chemicals and electrical in...

In this episode, Stephen and Ewan move beyond “math busting” and into something even deeper: paradigm busting. What if the biggest barrier to regenerative farming isn’t nitrogen rates or phosphate targets, but the mental models farmers have inherited for generations? From no-till myths to spray-first thinking, they unpack how industry narratives shape decisions long before a paddock is ever walked...