Adelaide Deliveries

[everywhen]

I'm not sure if this has been discussed before, but I think it's a situation others may have been in.

In the last few months I've done rather extensive reading of erowid, and now have a friend who is rather keen at having a shot a growing some of the plants mentioned on these pages.

The only issue is he lives at home, and whilst its not illegal to grow the plants (cacti, etc), it would be rather difficult to come up with a good excuse for a footlong cactus to arrive on the doorstep one day.

Is Australia Post or similar able to hold packages for people (surely they would have to for backpackers), a small charge is alright.

Alternatively, is there the ultimate excuse anyone can come up with for a maths student suddenly wishing to grow cacti?

Cheers.

[Darklight]

I'm not sure if this has been discussed before, but I think it's a situation others may have been in.

When I was rather a lot younger...*sigh*

Is Australia Post or similar able to hold packages for people (surely they would have to for backpackers), a small charge is alright.

Have it delivered directly to the post office

Your friendsname

c/- post office

Theirtown SA Postcode

If your town is small and everyone knows your parents, have it delivered to a post office in a nearby town or suburb. Before I got my PO Box I used to have all my mail sent that way so parcels wouldn't sit out the front of my house til I got back from work. You will need to provide some ID in order to claim your mail

Alternatively, is there the ultimate excuse anyone can come up with for a maths student suddenly wishing to grow cacti?

Aaah- sweet nostalgia https://www.shaman-australis.com/forum/applications/core/interface/imageproxy/imageproxy.php?img=&key=ed93ee4b8a158835e0af19ead9c794b11af03de360911f7858b9da338588c45d I had the same problem in my teens. I wasn't even eating my charges, well not often. Fortunately I already had a garden full of obscure herbs and plants as a long term interest, so it went ( almost ) unnoticed, except for a lot of suspicion and the odd demand from the neighbours to remove a supposed six foot high cannabis plant that was in fact a large & stunningly healthy french tarragon.

..oops, I digress. You can always try growing a few species- not just cactus. Buy, swap or trade plants for a 'rounded' look to your collection. IMO you'll find growing the allies is significant fun cos its nice just having them around. Throw a few culinary herbs in as well

Remember firstly that in growing legal plants you're not doing anything wrong- so don't be called on it or start to assume you have something to hide cos looking guilty always sets the alarm bells off. Often ppl will assume you're doing something wrong even if you aren't, and you'll be drawn into debate anyhow.

And finally, when discussing them with friends or family who have any interest in psychoactives but no real interest in ethnobotany- whether the interest is positive or negative, remember that if you mention the psychoactive effects of any species it will raise eyebrows and possibly cause an unwanted reaction anyhow. I lost a few plants when I was younger to an overzealous 'mate' who decided that even growing them constituted some kind of hazard to myself or others and pulled them out. Some people glean the oddest things from the most innocent conversations and tend to panic- especially on topics which concern drugs, however tangentially.

I'm not advision paranoia so much as be prepared for weird reactions- whatever you grow. Lets face it, most ppl these days aren't even familiar with anything more exotic and immediately identifiable than cultivated lettuce in the ground, and will assume the worst

Which is def a shame, b/c in my experience people who nurture their own plants take a far greater interest and care in the circumstances that surround them- cutlurally, botanically, chemically- it opens up a whole new world of perfectly legitimate and entirely interesting knowledge. You'd think it would be encouraged.

Best of luck with your proposed garden and I wish you an entirely fulfilling experience with the entire process https://www.shaman-australis.com/forum/applications/core/interface/imageproxy/imageproxy.php?img=&key=ed93ee4b8a158835e0af19ead9c794b11af03de360911f7858b9da338588c45d

[mescalito]

sss:

The only issue is he lives at home, and whilst its not illegal to grow the plants (cacti, etc), it would be rather difficult to come up with a good excuse for a footlong cactus to arrive on the doorstep one day.

AND

Alternatively, is there the ultimate excuse anyone can come up with for a maths student suddenly wishing to grow cacti?

Cheers.

Let your oldies in on your interests!

In particular the cultural and conservation aspects,obviously not focusing on the small part that may be a 'drug'.They may even chip in if you work with them on 'their' garden

AND

No excuse needed :D

When you start trading with others,your interests will widen so far from whence you started,you will be looking for more room!!

[mesq]

What is wrong with growing cacti.. ??? *sigh*

[strangebrew]

Hey Voodoochile, (slight return)?

It might be wise to make your first few purchases from a local nursery, even just a couple of those small, cheap cacti, just to break your oldies in to your hobby.

I know of a certain northern suburbs nursery that has a fairly unique looking 6/7 branched pachanoi for $70. The branches are about 2 ft. long but thin.

"Hey Mum and Dad, just thought this looked kinda cool!" :D

Unfortunately this old established nursery has no respect for their cacti - they are grown inside. They of all people should know better, they've got the room outside too. As a result the cacti are thinning. Make them an offer, put the pach. outside for a year and see what happens. If it doesn't look that good, what better reason to start your own cactus nursery - chop, chop

You've suddenly got 6 pachs and a very unique "grafting tree" or a pach producing machine, whatever you prefer.

I've been tempted to buy it myself but don't have the room.

[Gollum]

I think honesty is the best key. I also have just started my own little garden at my parents house(yes i still live with them ). I have been completely honest with them about my plants and my mum inparticularly shares a real intrest in how different cultures around the world use them. I think I am very lucky to have such down to earth and understanding parents and hopefully your parents accept your intrests.

Good luck

[narayan]

or you could just grow them and not worry about it, most people wouldn't have the slightest idea about what these plants can be used for

[everywhen]

wow. im impressed at the number of fast responses, i didnt realise so many people used this site.

i dont think its likely to be successful with the folks, one option would be to try the post office method (im in metro adelaide so no real issue there), and then try and recruit some friends to the hobby.

i was thinking more along the lines of some of the online sites to get seeds/cacti/etc from and go from there.

i'll try and make it along to the next adelaide meet, hopefully work wont interfere - how did it go down?

and strangebrew, yep, the album version of the song was actually recorded on the same day as my birthday. (which incidentally was yesterday )

[gerbil]

I'd be completely honest with your parents (but then again, i don't know your parents).

I crap on to my family about everything i can get out about plants/botany/ethnobotany etc. Eventually they just switch off 'cause they have no idea what i'm talking about, and trust me in what i'm doing.

It might even be worth buying a few peyote, and explaining why you want them, what their cultural uses are, rundown of alkaloids....and that there is not a chance that they will be consumed since they take many many years to grow, and are endangered in the wild. Keeping home cultivated specimens is helping the species.

I find it extremely worth while talking to them about how much propaganda is forced on society, and while office coffee and tobacco junkies sip and smoke happily away, they look down on any other substance as mind rotting and dangerous - except alcohol of course.

Then they can experience how much shit the media spins about drugs by watching the news.

...it's funny how the cops always bust cannabis grows right at harvest ey,? whilst making up ridiculous street prices and weights.

"this one cannabis plant has the potential to give 10 people mental illness", bit far fetched but i wouldn't be suprised hearing this on the news.

This topic has been extremely helpful in my parents accepting what i want to do with my life...though they do still think hallucinogens are quite dangerous in many regards :confused:

Build a vege patch, start a compost, propagate different trees/herbs/cacti etc. Try and explain that it's not just a passing fad.

Why should people feel bad and have to hide things when they want to have a connection with nature and a better understanding of who they are?

Which is def a shame, b/c in my experience people who nurture their own plants take a far greater interest and care in the circumstances that surround them- cutlurally, botanically, chemically- it opens up a whole new world of perfectly legitimate and entirely interesting knowledge. You'd think it would be encouraged. -darklight

Really well put, completely agree.

[ 05. May 2004, 12:18: Message edited by: gerbil ]

[occidentalis]

The parents thing is difficult. I lived at home until fairly recently, but I was lucky to have a relatively supportive and understanding mum who allowed me to fill up her garden with various exotic plants. I guess she realised that the quantity of drugs I consume is very low - far lower than most regular aussie beer drinkers - and I knew what I was doing, so she had quite a lot of trust in my abilities to stay safe. However, after being a hippy in her earlier life, and several years working in 'drug and alcohol' ( :mad: ) counselling she had overcome social conditioning surrounding taboo substances. It wasn't so easy with my dad, but he lives on the other side of the country, so I just told him that I was into ethnobotany, explained that ethnobotany is the study of the relationships between plants and humans and emphasised the anthropological, cultural side of things. More recently I have been straight with him and explained the properties of some of my collection. I think he understands that my interest is primarily academic and I have no plans to do anything to dangerous any time soon.

I recently came to the realisation that my interest is absolutely valid and legitimate. I was worried what people would think, because I felt guilty about being interested in such naughty things as sacred plants. I now have no problem saying "I am interested in psychoactive plants". :D

It is difficult, but I suggest that if you're old enough to be interested in such plants and their uses, you're old enought to be straight with your parents.

[The Dude]

yep, parents ARE a hassle. I'd love to grow some cacti and whatnot but there's no way my parents would let me if they know what they do. My mum gets really upset about me smoking weed because she's REALLY worried. It's not anything to do with the social stigma or legality but she just thinks its dangerous and is worried for me. So i gotta lie and i feel shitty about it, when i move out i wanna be straight with her but don't want to upset her.

Haha but this has nothing to do with you guys. Just wanted to point out that parents are a hassle!

[ 05. May 2004, 23:58: Message edited by: El Duderino ]

[trixxy3]

as long as it has pretty flowers your mum should be happy, it worked for me with datura

[Absinthe]

Years ago I became interested in these strange spiny plants some of possessed hallucinogenic properties. I proclaimed to my parents I would build a greenhouse to grow these beauties. So I looked up a bunch of pictures, chose a handful and went and bought some, including a Peyote and Pach although the Peyote soon died I explained to my parents that some had "special" properties, but not for me. Today, I have a glasshouse (which I built with my father, what a bonding experience) with over 100 plants (mostly cacti) some of which do possess drug-like properties. I have found my whole interest has been well accepted by my parents. They know I would not do anything stupid, and support my interests.

I'd say, express an interest to your parents in this sort of stuff and I'm sure they would support you with whatever you do. Just don't go out and buy every legal drug plant there is and nothing else. I have gained a lot of respect plants for what they are this way.

Cheers,

Jon

[Chemical Shaman]

Tell your parents you're growing the cacti coz you need the mescaline to help get you off the heroin.

-Chemical Shaman

[The Dude]

haha yeh i like cs's idea! That should work!