The secret world of Sydney's psychoactive cacti growers who tend suburban gardens of peyote and ayahuasca

Liam Engel works with Entheogenesis Australia and is the founder of The Mescaline Garden. (Supplied: The Mescaline Garden)

Before I met the cactus expert, I didn't even know psychoactive gardens existed. Of course I wanted to see one.

So on a cool, rainy day in February 2022, I drove west to the foot of the Blue Mountains to visit Liam Engel. It took longer than I thought. There is something about Emu Plains near Penrith that is more relaxed than the inner city. Maybe it's the bigger expanse of sky or the wider street verges. The earth smells good and you get the taste for a more rural life.