I made a comment in my newest grow log update, and it got me to thinking, "That might be a good topic of conversation in it's own thread". So here it is. I have, over the last few months, embarked on a grow journey of pretty large proportions. Now that things are picking up, and I am seeing lush greens out of 80% of my endeavors. I noticed something. I noticed that I am having many of the positive effects that many folks describe (including myself) that follow some of these experiences. My anxiety is curbing, my depression has been non-existent. My daily habits are becoming healthier, I even find more pride in the work I do at my job, among a few other minor things. So, what are your thoughts? A personal theory that I have is that being in close proximity to such strong-spirited plants, in concert with the change in daily routine that is required to care for them; may give some of the positive effects of ingestion? This is all purely speculation, but I thought some of you may have interesting views on the subject. Please, discuss.

I have noticed my mental health improves in the spring when my garden becomes lush again, especially when I see my ethnobotanicals survive another winter.

I always get a bit of this from my veggie garden, but it seems to me that this year, with the addition of an entheobotanical garden, that the effects seem to be exponential. I can almost (take with grain of salt) feel the spirits of the plants accompanying me through my chores throughout the day. The surviving of winter is a whole 'nother experience that I cannot weigh in on until this time next year. As I will be placing a few of my varieties out in the woods near my house. Thanks for sharing your 2 cents! This is a very interesting subject to me

Totally agree SVibes. I also have begun enjoying growing entheogens in various spots around my garden and indoors. It is a very different experience, but I am gaining something from it, watering my veggie patch in the morning and then lovingly walking up to my entheogenic plants and commune with them. I do look forward to consuming my grows though as well but simply watching the columns of SP grow in rich hues of bluish green really brings a song to my heart. When I hike around my area, I am always on the lookout for psychoactive plants. Recently I brought home Datura seeds to plant. I heard that keeping the angel trumpet in the vicinity alone is enough to cause intense dreams as they give out a heady scent. There is something perhaps about the vibrations of these teacher plants. Next goal is a lawn of phalaris grass. The patience and care one spends growing and bonding with these plants is invaluable. I believe its two way, we give and get something from them. Maybe it is because the level of care and respect is increased when we grow these entheogens. But it is truly extremely satisfying and rewarding. I will be more happier if I can grow a little herb garden for changa blends. To get the whiff of dmt every now and then is a good sign too. Let it flow, let it grow...

I've been growing plants as one of my favorite hobbies for the past 8 years. I first started out by growing my favorite fruit, the chili pepper. At around the same time I started growing I also began experimenting with drugs and the two just went hand in hand.


I like the advantages that these biochemical factories produce as a lot of the drugs that we all love and consume like THC, DMT and cocaine to name a few, come from one or more of these things and along with research and studying scientific papers, growing these special plants is a closer way to get into contact with these marvelous substances that provide us with some of the best experiences life has to offer and some of the best medicine known to man, be it the morphine that oozes out of the unripe seed pods of the P.somniferum poppy providing us with the power to treat gunshot wounds to the mescaline that is synthesized by Andean cacti which have the power to combat some of the most severe mental illnesses.


I'd say the most important reason I grow these plants is safety and security. Both the general public and government are very backwards and scientifically illiterate with their approach to these plants and the compounds they produce so one is never sure how long these things will be about in terms of availability and legality. It makes me feel safe that I have made an investment for the future in that as long as I grow these plants I'll always have the compounds they create within themselves.

I do not know how I missed this comment, Kingtryptamine, but I apologize for not responding sooner. I absolutely agree that they are some of the best medicines on earth. Cocaine is one of those drugs that I have a love/hate relationship with. It does me well for the first hour or 4 that I indulge, but soon after that window, I begin to act very fiendy. Any time anyone reaches into their pocket, I break my neck trying to "investigate" what is in their hands. I then become very self aware that I am behaving this way, and think my way into a paranoia loop; ruining my experience completely and totally. When drinking coca teas, or chewing the leaves, or eating the candies that ship from Peru that I love so much, I do not have these issues, and I still very much get the positive effects. Such as heightened awareness, stamina, and elevated mood. I can do this all day if I want to and the experience is always smooth. Same this with somniferum. As a person who has enjoyed opioids a bit too much in the span of their life, I have a quick potential for dependance. I find this to be non-existent with the milk of the poppy. I am able take it for what I need, when I need, and while it absolutely has recreational properties, I am able to put it down when it does not suit me.

The idea of security is something I have thought much about too. Knowing that I do not have to put myself in any illegal situations involving someone else, possibly even a stranger, is wonderful for my peace-of-mind! But also something else that comforts me in these endeavors, is this: I, being of a bit of a cautious mind, am TERRIFIED of getting something that has been cut or doctored in any way. I even very rarely take L from anyone who doesn't know for sure how many micrograms are in each drop, and exactly what the crystal it was derived from was. My mind goes on these strange paranoid fears that someone is trying to "get" me. This all is derived from my years on tour with the remaining members of the grateful dead (i.e. The Dead, Ratdog, Phil + friends, further, Melvin Seals and JGB, even the first year of Dead + Co.). If you have ever been in these environments, you may have come across the folks who either were or considered themselves "pranksters". At first I was very much with it when the secret dosing was happening, because I had never had a bad trip or a paranoid though I couldn't reason my way out of. Until there was no way out. At this point I only trust myself (mostly, there have been few exceptions). So I grow these plants because the plants don't deceive you.

I went off on a tangent a little bit, but it is relevant to the conversation in this way. I previously mentioned that my anxiety and my depression had been non-existent. I think psychologically this may stem a bit from this "security" that you mentioned. Knowing that I will have full love and trust in these experiences that I am literally cultivating. Peace of Mind. When one has peace of mind, how could there be anxiety? How could one be depressed? These things seem like the opposite of peace of mind to me. Anyways, thanks for commenting. Very insightful.

Have a blessed day!