Although the struggle of rural communities to supplement their processes of subsistence and development can be observed in the effort of some of their inhabitants, current public policy in Mexico is restricted to providing social guarantees, placing the generation of economic alternatives in the hands of the market, which proves insufficient to produce local and regional development. The article reflects upon this situation by analyzing a cooperative work initiative which originated in Sonora's north-central region more than six years ago. It also shows how tensions -mainly between cooperative and reciprocity practices and trading with the market- are dynamically solved. Theoretical postulates originating in different disciplines and adopted by the proposals of solidarity economy were used. The case serves to illustrate the difficulties, wealth and potential of these initiatives and the importance of government support in communities which have become vulnerable and unable to face profound depopulation processes due to low economic capacity and widespread drug dealing.