We hear a lot from women about buying locally grown organic products for themselves and their families.  The women we met with in Boise took that one step further, investing their energies in building locally owned companies or at least working for them.  Additionally, they like to buy organic products for their dogs.  The challenge across the board—money.

“I like to buy organic, but it is so expensive that I have to make trade-offs,” said a 50-something woman who had tried unsuccessfully to run a boutique in the area.  She continued on to say that she prefers organic products for her dog but it is an expensive proposition that she often has to forgo when things are tight, which is often now that her business closed and she took a job with a non-profit.  As a single woman the economic challenges are great. 

Others at the table echoed the desire to eat healthfully, and buy and sell locally.  They, too, are faced with economics that are challenging.  “I wish there were more resources for women wanting to start and run their own business successfully,” said another entrepreneur at the table.  And while they didn’t say it, it was certainly understood that they hoped women would support them and their local endeavors.