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. 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 ~50 presentations annually and has authored 65 publications on these topics. Considered a leading authority on vermicomposting, Rhonda has answered questions on this topic from people in 125 countries. Rhonda organizes an annual conference on large‐scale commercial vermicomposting (her 21st Annual Vermiculture Conference was held on October 22-23, 2022 with 183 attendees).

Her book The Worm Farmer’s Handbook: Mid- to Large-Scale Vermicomposting for Farms, Businesses, Municipalities, Schools, and Institutions was selected to receive Choice Magazine’s (American Library Association) award for Outstanding Academic Title. Winning books were selected for their excellence in scholarship and presentation, the significance of their contribution to the field, and their value as an important treatment of their subject.

Rhonda is the founder and director of the 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 has taught composting and vermicomposting in Guyana, the Dominican Republic, Argentina, Chile, Italy, Canada, Mexico, and throughout the United States. Her annual conference on large‐scale commercial vermicomposting has been attended by people from Argentina, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Belgium, Canada, China, Dominican Republic, England, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hong Kong, Kuwait, India, Israel, Latvia, Mexico, Micronesia, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, Trinidad & Tobago, Turkey, Uganda, USA, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Rhonda has been active in local and national organizational development. She co-founded the Alliance for Integrated Resource Management (1988), Van Buren County Citizens for Recycling (1989), Source-Separated Compost & Organics Recycling Association (1993), National Backyard Composting Program (1994), and the North Carolina Composting Council (2008). She has served on the Boards of numerous associations, including the US Composting Council.

Read more about Rhonda’s professional activities: Curriculum Vitae

If you wish to contact Rhonda, send an email to sherman@ncsu.edu

Podcast Interviews with Rhonda Sherman

• Understanding Vermicompost and the Benefits of Worm Castings. The Joe Gardener Show with Joe Lamp’l, Episode 290
• Vermicomposting Success: What You Need to Know Before Starting a Worm Bin. The Joe Gardener Show with Joe Lamp’l, Episode 291
• Farms, Food and You: Vermicomposting
• 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
• Living Permaculture National Public Radio Digs Into Worms
• Sustainable Nation Podcast
• Farmerama Podcast
• Vertical Veg Podcast, UK
• Nobody Listens to Paula Poundstone, Episode 143: A Hot Pile of Garbage!