Psychedelic trees, fungi and cacti workshops, Emu Plains, February 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 workshops on Saturday February 15th, at the Penrith Regional Gallery by the Nepean River in Emu Plains. The first two workshops focus on the original psychedelic plants (mescaline cacti!) while the third focuses on psychedelic plants more broadly. 

Workshop 1 explores mescaline and the relationship of this psychedelic with special species of cacti, most notably Peyote (Lophophora williamsii) and San Pedro (Trichocereus spp.). Attendees will learn about the science and culture surrounding mescaline cacti, including how to identify these plants. Participants will practice a unique technique for seed germination and seedling raising, making their own terrarium and planting their own San Pedro seeds. Workshop 1 will run for 90 minutes (10:00am-11:30am) and attendees will be limited to 22 participants.

Workshop 2 focuses on more advanced cacti propagation techniques. Most professional growers obtain their plants by growing from seed, grafting and trading – few people can afford rare cacti at market value. In this workshop, participants learn about techniques for accelerating the growth of slow-growing and valuable cacti. Attendees will have the opportunity to try their hands at grafting and micrografting, and will return home with their own grafted mescaline cacti.  Workshop 2 will run for 75 minutes (12:00pm-1:15pm) and attendees will be limited to 22 participants.

Workshop 3 takes a broader approach to explain the most commonly consumed psychedelics in Australia; psilocybin, DMT 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. 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, for the purposes of mushroom cultivation and identification. Workshop 3 will run for 90 minutes (1:30pm-3:00pm) and attendees will be limited to 22 participants

A selection of psychedelic plants will also 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, 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.