Rhonda Sherman
Biological & Agricultural Engineering
North Carolina State University

Compost Training Facility

A compost training and demonstration facility is located at NC State University’s (NCSU) Lake Wheeler Road Field Laboratory.  A variety of on-site composting and vermicomposting systems are on display at the facility. 

Hands-on training courses are offered periodically, including:

• Training on establishing community-wide backyard composting programs for extension educators, recycling coordinators, and master composters. Topics will include composting principles; beneficial reuse of compost, and how on-site composting programs can be managed for success.
• Workshops for the general public on how to compost organic materials in their back yards.
• Workshops on vermicomposting for extension educators, recycling coordinators, the general public, teachers, and Master Composters and Gardeners. Topics covered will include worm biology and habitat preference, feeding rates, casting harvesting
• Training sessions addressing on-site composting methods for businesses, institutions, and industries.

A five-day training course on large-scale composting is offered every other year by the USCC-NC Committe on Composting. Compost School 2008 will take place on September 8-12, 2008. This training is for public and private composting operators, farmers, recycling specialists, extension educators and other governmental agency personnel.  Topics include the chemistry and physical processes of composting, developing feedstock mixes, site selection and preparation, odor control and marketing.

Factsheets on composting, vermicomposting, recycling, and other waste reduction topics may be accessed and downloaded from: http://www.bae.ncsu.edu/people/faculty/sherman

For more information, contact Rhonda Sherman, Director, Compost Training Facility, Telephone: 919/515-6770, Fax: 919/515-6772, E-mail: rhonda_sherman@ncsu.edu
 
 

Updated 1/3/08