Psychedelic plant workshops, Emu Plains, December 20, 2025

Psychedelic therapy is booming and it's thanks to plant medicine. 

Put down psychedelic roots in your own garden and join ethnobotanist, natural products chemist and science communicator Dr Liam Engel for psychedelic plant workshops on Saturday December 20th, at the Penrith Regional Gallery by the Nepean River in Emu Plains, where this workshop will be offered twice. Choose from a morning or afternoon workshop session. 

The format of this event is a lecture-style presentation, followed by a practical, following which participants leave with their own plant-children. The presentation will cover the most commonly consumed, plant-derived psychedelics in Australia; psilocybin, DMT (including ayahuasca) and mescaline. Participants learn what psychedelics are and how each of these psychedelic is different, including the different plants these psychedelics come from; cacti, mushrooms and Acacia trees. 

In the practical, participants will practice a unique technique for seed germination and seedling raising, making their own terrarium and planting their own psychedelic Acacia seeds. Participants will also learn to make a spore print, a skill that can assist with mushroom cultivation and identification. 

This workshop runs for 120 minutes, including Q&A, and is limited to 28 participants per session. Please note that the second session is a repeat of the first, and tickets are valid for one session only. All participants will receive a follow-up email, summarising key learnings from the day.

A selection of psychedelic plants and merchandise will be available for attendees to purchase.

Bio – Dr Liam Engel

Dr Liam Engel is an ethnobotanist, natural products chemist and science communicator.

Liam is one of the world’s leading experts in mescaline cacti and tryptamine Acacia, but specialises in knowledge around all illicit drugs, particularly the areas of harm reduction, psychedelics, ecology, internet and drug reform. Liam’s unique skillset incorporates health and medicine, communications and social sciences, alongside botany and horticulture.

Dr Liam Engel is founder of The Mescaline Garden educational nursery and a natural products chemist at NICM Health Research Institute.