Psychedelic trees, fungi and cacti workshops, Emu Plains

Psychedelic therapy is booming and it's thanks to plant medicine. Put down psychedelic roots in your own garden and join ethnobotanist Dr Liam Engel for psychedelic workshops across two weekends. Session One runs on Saturday October 12th, while Session Two runs the following week, on Saturday October 19th. The first two workshops focus on the original psychedelic, mescaline cacti, while the third focuses on psychedelic plants more broadly. The same three workshops are repeated on the second weekend. 

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 how to identify psychedelic cacti and related harm reduction techniques. Participants will practice a unique technique for seed germination and seedling raising, making their own terrarium and planting their own San Pedro seeds. 90 minutes (9:30am-11:00am). Two sessions: Session One (Saturday, October 12th) and Session Two (Saturday, October 19th). Both sessions 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. 90 minutes (12:00pm-1:30pm). Two sessions: Session One (Saturday, October 12th) and Session Two (Saturday, October 19th). Both sessions 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. 90 minutes (2:00pm-3:30pm). Two sessions: Session One (Saturday, October 12th) and Session Two (Saturday, October 19th). Both sessions limited to 22 participants.

A selection of psychedelic plants will also be available for participants to purchase.

Bio – Dr Liam Engel

Dr Liam Engel is an author, ethnobotanist and drug science researcher.

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 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.