Rhonda Sherman is an extension specialist in the Department of Horticultural Science at NC State University providing leadership for university outreach programs on solid waste management issues through the Cooperative Extension Service. She holds degrees in Environmental Studies and Urban/Regional Planning, and Environmental Resources Analysis with an emphasis in solid waste management.

Rhonda’s areas of expertise are vermicomposting, composting, recycling and waste reduction. She gives about 40 presentations annually and has authored over 65 publications on these topics. Her new book is The Worm Farmer’s Handbook: Mid- to Large-Scale Vermicomposting for Farms, Businesses, Municipalities, Schools, and Institutions.

Considered a leading authority on vermicomposting, Rhonda has received requests for information from people in 113 countries. She has taught composting and vermicomposting in Guyana, the Dominican Republic, Argentina, Chile, and throughout the United States. Rhonda organizes the world’s only annual conference on large‐scale commercial vermicomposting (her 20th Annual Vermiculture Conference will be in 2019). People from Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Belgium, Canada, China, Dominican Republic, England, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hong Kong, India, Israel, Latvia, Mexico, Micronesia, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, Trinidad & Tobago, Turkey, Uganda, USA, and Zimbabwe have participated in this conference.

Rhonda is the founder and director of a two‐acre Compost Learning Lab (CL2) at NC State’s 1,500-acre Lake Wheeler Road Field Laboratory. The CL2 has a 40‐ft by 30‐ft Worm Barn, an equipment shed, and a covered teaching shelter. There are 26 types of composting and vermicomposting bins and areas for hands‐on training activities.

Rhonda co‐founded the North Carolina Composting Council (NCCC) and served on the Board of Directors for 10 years. In the past, she was on the Board of Directors of the U.S. Composting Council and was a contributing editor to BioCycle Journal of Composting and Organics Recycling. Rhonda co-edited the only scientific book on vermicomposting: Vermiculture Technology: Earthworms, Organic Wastes, & Environmental Management

Read more about Rhonda’s professional activities: Curriculum Vitae

Podcast Interviews with Rhonda Sherman

• The No-Till Market Garden, Rhonda Sherman & The Worm Farmer’s Handbook
• The Urban Farm – Rhonda Sherman on Organically Recycling Through Vermicomposting
• Food Chain Radio Show #1168: Employing Worms to Turn Garbage Into Gold
• Digging in the Dirt: The Worm Farmer’s Handbook – Rhonda Sherman
• The Definitive Guide to Vermicomposting, with Rhonda Sherman, author of The Worm Farmer’s Handbook

Contact Rhonda Sherman