Composting | NC State Extension

Skip to main content

County Centers
View All Topics
Give Now

Menu

Composting

COVID-19 Resources
Events
About Rhonda Sherman
Composting chevron_right
- Home & Backyard Composting
- Large-Scale Composting
Vermicomposting chevron_right
21st Vermiculture Conference
Recycling & Solid Waste Reduction
Food Waste Management
Compost Learning Lab
Donate
Publications & Factsheets

Now on Twitter

Search this website

For timely guidance and resources, visit:
covid19.ces.ncsu.edu

You have reached the end of our news

Extension Jobs

What separates NC State University from other schools? The same thing that connects it to every corner of North Carolina: NC State Extension. Working hand-in-hand with our partners at N.C. A&T and 101 local governments, we conduct groundbreaking research that addresses real-world issues in communities across the state.

» Why Work in Extension?

» View All Openings

Recent Contributors

Rhonda Sherman, N.C. Cooperative Extension

Rhonda ShermanExtension Solid Waste Specialist (vermicomposting, composting, recycling)

About Extension

NC State Extension is the largest outreach program at NC State University. Based in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, we reach millions of North Carolina citizens each year through local centers in the state's 100 counties and with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. Learn More About NC State Extension

Social Media Accounts

Twitter

Let's Stay In Touch

We have several topic based e-mail newsletters that are sent out periodically when we have new information to share. Want to see which lists are available?
Subscribe By Email

About
Composting

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 50 presentations annually and has authored over 65 publications on these topics. Rhonda co-edited the 600-page book titled Vermiculture Technology: Earthworms, Organic Wastes, & Environmental Management

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 important treatment of their subject.

Considered a leading authority on vermicomposting, Rhonda has received requests for information from people in 118 countries. She has taught composting and vermicomposting in Guyana, the Dominican Republic, Argentina, Chile, Italy, Canada, Mexico, and throughout the United States. Rhonda organizes the world’s only annual conference on large‐scale commercial vermicomposting (her 20th Annual Vermiculture Conference was in 2019). People from Argentina, Aruba, 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 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

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
Abundant Edge Podcast
Farmerama Podcast
Vertical Veg Podcast, UK

NC State University and N.C. A&T State University work in tandem, along with federal, state and local governments, to form a strategic partnership called N.C. Cooperative Extension, which staffs local offices in all 100 counties and with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.

Read our Commitment to Diversity | Read our Privacy Statement

N.C. Cooperative Extension prohibits discrimination and harassment on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, sex (including pregnancy), disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, and veteran status.

Information on Accessibility

Where Next?

About Extension
Jobs
Departments & Partners
College of Agriculture & Life Sciences
Extension at N.C. A&T
Give Now

LOGIN

N.C. Cooperative Extension has offices in every county

Composting

Campus Box 7602
NC State University
Raleigh, NC 27695-7602

(919) 515-2813 composting.ces.ncsu.edu

Skip List of Locations

Alamance Alexander Alleghany Anson Ashe Avery Beaufort Bertie Bladen Brunswick Buncombe Burke

Cabarrus Caldwell Camden Carteret Caswell Catawba Chatham Cherokee Chowan Clay Cleveland Columbus Craven

Cumberland Currituck Dare Davidson Davie Duplin Durham EBCI Center Edgecombe Forsyth Franklin Gaston Gates

Graham Granville Greene Guilford Halifax Harnett Haywood Henderson Hertford Hoke Hyde Iredell Jackson

Johnston Jones Lee Lenoir Lincoln Macon Madison Martin McDowell Mecklenburg Mitchell Montgomery Moore

Nash New Hanover Northampton Onslow Orange Pamlico Pasquotank Pender Perquimans Person Pitt Polk Randolph

Richmond Robeson Rockingham Rowan Rutherford Sampson Scotland Stanly Stokes Surry Swain Transylvania Tyrrell

Union Vance Wake Warren Washington Watauga Wayne Wilkes Wilson Yadkin Yancey

More Centers, Systems and Services

Advisory Leadership System
Center for Environmental Farming Systems
Extension in Other States
Mountain Horticultural Crops Research & Extension Center
NC 4-H Centers
Vernon G. James Research & Extension Center
District Map

Extension Topics

4-H Youth Development

Equine Husbandry
North Carolina 4-H
Poultry 4-H & Youth
Youth Livestock Program

Agriculture & Food

Ag BioTech
Agricultural and Natural Resource Law (Farm Law)
Aquaculture
Entomology – Insect Biology and Management
Executive Farm Management
Extension Plant Pathology
Fork to Farmer
NC Farm School
NC FarmLink
Official Variety Testing

Animal Agriculture

Animal Waste Management
Beef
Dairy
Equine Husbandry
Feed Milling
Forages
Poultry Extension
Small Ruminants
Swine
Youth Livestock Program

Forest Resources

Christmas Trees
Extension Forestry

Commercial Horticulture, Nursery & Turf

Blackberry & Raspberry Information
Blueberries
Cucurbits
Cut Flowers
Horticulture
Mountain Crop Improvement (MCI) Lab
Mountain Horticultural Crops Research and Extension Center
Muscadine and Vinifera Grapes
Peach Growers Information
Poinsettias
Southern Appalachian Apples
Strawberry Growers Information
Therapeutic Horticulture
TurfFiles
Vegetable Production

Community

Advisory Leadership System
Community Development
COVID-19 Resources and Information
Military Outreach
NC AgVentures
NC Disaster Information Center
Tourism Extension

Health & Nutrition

Family & Consumer Sciences Program
Steps to Health

Farm Health & Safety

NC Pesticide Safety Education

Field Crops

Corn
Cotton
Official Variety Testing
Organic Commodities
Peanut
Small Grains
Soybeans
Stevia
Tobacco Growers Information

Food Safety & Processing

Food Safety
Food Business
Food Safety for Processors
FoodCoVNET
NC Fresh Produce Safety

Lawn & Garden

Community Gardens
Composting
Extension Gardener
Extension Master Gardener℠ Volunteers
Gardening
Horticulture
TurfFiles

Local Foods

Food Safety
Fork to Farmer
Local Food
NC Fresh Produce Safety

Home & Family

Family & Consumer Sciences Program
Healthy Homes
Home Energy Conservation

Pest Management

Entomology – Insect Biology and Management
Extension Plant Pathology
Integrated Pest Management
NC Pesticide Safety Education
Weed Management in Nurseries, Landscapes & Christmas Trees

Soil, Water & Air

Soil Fertility

Specialty Crops

Blackberry & Raspberry Information
Blueberries
Cut Flowers
Growing Small Farms
Muscadine and Vinifera Grapes
New Crops & Organics
Strawberry Growers Information