About Us

Budding Iris Publications came into being when Charlotte, Rachel and Anna started dreaming about a widely available parenting publication that offered a mixture of home spun tales of family living and articles researched and written by professionals in their chosen field.
 
Our wish is to spotlight the myriad choices and experiences that abound when it comes to mindful parenting/care giving, environmentally responsible living, alternative health and education and respectful communication.
 
We celebrate choice and diversity and encourage the conscious nurturing of our children, our earth and ourselves.
 
Charlotte Young is a bit of a dreamer who tries very hard to keep her feet on the ground (except when she’s dancing). Charlotte lives with her much loved husband, two sons and daughter in semi-rural outer Melbourne. She grew up in England but made Australia home in her mid-twenties. She studied linguistics and has worn many hats in her working life from education to childcare, to the corporate sector and retail. Charlotte’s love of communication - particularly the written word - and dance have been her mainstays however, and family life her passion.
 
Rachel Watts is the mother and stepmother of 4 beautiful children and is married to the great love of her life, Robert.  Rachel has worked as a psychologist (mainly with children and adolescents) for more than 17 years.  As a result of her working life and her life as a mother, Rachel is passionate about the fundamental role parents play in their children's lives and how essential good parenting is to the health of the wider community.   Rachel's oldest child died suddenly in 2007.  This experience has reinforced Rachel's belief in the power of words to heal deep wounds and create connections between people.  It is her hope that Barefoot reaches out to mothers, fathers, grandparents, carers and communities to inspire, heal, challenge and support the roles they all play in the lives of our children.
 
Anna Foletta lives in Eltham with her lovely husband and her two beautiful children. She is a primary teacher, a proud stay at home mum, has a love of all things natural and has an aversion to wearing shoes.  She has been involved in parenting circles for many years and is passionate about providing non prescriptive options regarding conscious parenting, through community, sharing stories and the written word.