Using a Community Farmers’ Market to Engage Students From an Alternative School

Abstract

A university-school-community partnership was created through an agricultural initiative. As the program progressed, four high school interns from an alternative school were hired. We explored their lived experiences related to academic social capital when working in a Community Farmers’ Market. We utilized ethnographic means when working with the interns. Data collection involved observation, conversations, and field notes. These were then taken to create audio reflections to provide depth to the interactions. Then we transcribed the audio reflections and looked for themes related to academic social capital. Findings included those things that facilitated and constrained the students’ academic social capital. We also discuss how we experienced personal growth and reflected on how hiring the interns changed the program for the better.