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