Guinahan I Lanchero: Maddy Flores

On an island where over 95% of our food is imported, every head of lettuce grown locally is an act of security. Imagine the journey - produce shipped thousands of miles across the ocean, stored for weeks before ever reaching our shelves. By the time it lands on Guam, it is less fresh and nutritent dense. Yet, in the northern village of Yigo, one woman is proving that we can rewrite this story.

Meet Maddy Flores, a self-taught hydroponic farmer whose determination sprouted from curiosity and an online search engine. Without formal training or fancy equipment, Maddy learned everything through YouTube! How to design systems, balance nutrients, and nurture plants without soil. Through trial and error, she built her own hydroponic setup right in her backyard, where rows of crisp, green lettuce now thrive under the sun.

But like many small-scale growers, Maddy has faced her share of challenges. One of her biggest struggles has been finding a consistent market for her produce. But recently, she has been supplying fresh lettuce to participants in our Composting in Every Village program.

For Maddy, “having food security will guarantee that our money on Guam, stays of Guam, were not exporting all our money out.” When we produce more of our own food, we don’t have to depend so much on imports.

Maddy’s story is a reminder that innovation can grow anywhere - even from a backyard, a few rain gutter pipes, and a dream. Her work proves that a sustainable Guåhan starts with everyday people who choose to grow.