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 Episode
This 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

An EcoFarmer’s Discovery Chapter 13: Products
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 Kindle. Each episode unpacks the stories and principles behind regenerative farming, with 26 chapters released across 26 weeks.

In This Episode

This 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 system

This 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 Function

The EcoFarm Aotearoa Podcast

Modern 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 system

This 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 Campbell

Powered by: EcoFarm Aotearoa – ⁠⁠www.efa.nz⁠⁠

Our FREE E-Book:⁠https://www.ecofarmaotearoa.nz/download-our-ebook/

Listen To An EcoFarmers Discovery:⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/3wIgUUghlsKIje76E5tjBA?si=c2fde76b54c44e62⁠

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