Weed Derive: A Handbook was inspired by the Situationist’s playful practice of the dérive, walking and encountering the terrain with one or more persons to break the monotony of capitalism by introducing new experiences. Soft Meadow adopted the dérive as a practice of walking and observing to discover and document what spontaneous plants were inhabiting abandoned lots, car parks and cracks in the pavement. The zine explores themes of making do and sharing resources such as a reading list and a playlist. It includes instructions on how to read the urban landscape, maps and a list of plants you may find in these overlooked spaces. 

Soft Meadow Collective:

The Soft Meadow Collective are multidisciplinary artists Sarah Lynch, Daniella Ruffino, and Adele Daniele, who are interested in plants, pollinators, biodiversity, and urban ecology. The Collective was established in 2022 during a residency at Collingwood Yards. Currently, the collective is participating in the Room To Create Program, supported by the City of Yarra, at the Fitzroy Town Hall.

Soft Meadow is passionate about generating new perspectives, inviting conversations, and collaborating with artists, musicians, urban ecologists, geographers, and landscape architects on projects to encourage a connection to nature.

Soft Meadow has produced exhibitions, workshops, publications, public art projects, film screenings, art/plant pop-up libraries and community engaged art projects.