Weed Dérive: A Handbook Issue #1

Weed Dérive: 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.

Weed Dérive is a Zine #1 Launched in Naarm, Australia, in 2023.

24 pages and A5 in size (148x210mm) printed in full colour.

Weed Dérive: Drawing Edition Issue # 2

Weed Dérive: Drawing Edition Issue # 2 focuses on drawing to examine the often-overlooked flora of disturbed and neglected sites closely. It documents Soft Meadow Collective’s recent drawing workshops, which have focused on foraging and arranging weeds from gardens, laneways, and roadsides into botanical still-life arrangements. Participants engage with these spontaneous plants through drawing and observational exercises, sparking conversations and broadening perceptions of the local environment.

Soft Meadow Collective focuses on low-impact and nurturing practices that cultivate open-ended ways of seeking beauty and a more nuanced understanding of the complexities within the urban landscape. 

Weed Dérive: Drawing Edition Issue #2 - Launched in Naarm, Australia, 2024.

24 pages and A5 in size (148x210mm) full colour.