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Rhonda Sherman, N.C. Cooperative Extension

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

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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
Sustainable Living Institute 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.

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