Phalarope supports rural women, youth, and families to develop agricultural micro-enterprises that strengthen household income and local food systems. Participants learn small-scale production, value-added processing, cost management, and access to local markets — creating dignified livelihoods close to home.

Our approach expands economic opportunity while allowing families to remain connected to land, culture, and community networks. These enterprises reinforce women’s leadership, build youth entrepreneurship pathways, and strengthen rural economies grounded in dignity and resilience.

Hydroponic Agriculture Pilot

This initiative began with a Rotary Global Grant, which allowed Phalarope to pilot hydroponic micro-enterprises in rural communities.

Through this collaboration, families received training in:

• Small-scale hydroponic production
• Nutrient and water management
• Food safety and quality control
• Business planning and pricing
• Local produce sales and distribution

This pilot demonstrated that hydroponics can:

• Generate supplemental income

• Improve household nutrition

• Strengthen rural food systems

• Expand economic participation for women and youth

• Create viable market-based agricultural enterprises

Most importantly, it established the first hydroponic enterprise in the country run by Indigenous women, and one of only three hydroponic businesses nationwide at that time.

This groundbreaking model proved that rural and Indigenous women can lead innovative agricultural enterprises and succeed in high-value food production markets.

Watch the Hydroponic Project Story

Click below to see how community members developed and sustained hydroponic micro-enterprises:

Agricultural Enterprises video (spanish) Agricultural Enterprises (English)