Feature Build at Scott Farm
Arch Bridge Workshop
Arch by Torben Larsen
Women's Dry Stone Walling Workshop
Stone Steps by Michael Weitzner
Instructor Certification Course 2018
Stonework by TJ Mora
Stone Arch Bridge Tour, Southern NH
Small Stone Arch Workshop
Stonework by David Fielder
Intro to Dry Stone Walling Workshop
Stonework by Brian Post
Welcome to The Stone Trust
Established in southern Vermont in 2010, The Stone Trust’s mission is to preserve and advance the art and craft of dry stone walling. We do this through an expanding program of educational events and outreach projects. The Stone Trust is a multifaceted resource engaged in preserving the natural use of plentiful stone in simple, gratifying ways.
The Stone Trust Center is the only facility in North America that provides year round educational and DSWA certification opportunities for all levels and abilities. The Stone Trust is a 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Organization. It relies on contributions from people like you to keep its programs going. Help us continue to preserve and advance the art and craft of Dry Stone Walling!
Quick Links
- Looking for hands-on training to build dry stone walls? Click Upcoming Workshops
- Want to become a Certified Dry Stone Waller? Click Upcoming Certifications
- Looking for a contractor to build a wall? Click Certified Wallers
- Want to read up on the basics of dry stone walling? Click How to Build Walls
- Looking for amazing photos of dry stone walls and features? Click Photo Gallery
- Are you an Architect, Landscape Architect, Engineer or Designer looking for specifications for dry stone walls? Click Design Information
Support The Stone Trust
Your support makes our work possible. Please consider helping us preserve and advance the craft of dry stone walling by making a donation today. Thank you.
From the Blog
The Scott Farm, a Certified B Corporation located in Dummerston, Vermont, seeks a full-time Business Manager. The farm includes 571 acres, many historic buildings, a 40-acre heirloom apple orchard, a thriving on-farm market, indoor and outdoor event spaces, hiking trails, and a variety of natural resources. Our team seeks someone with the skills to manage […]
January 2020 brought 6 new board members to The Stone Trust, bringing the board to a nearly full complement–12 out of 13 allowed by our articles. We hope you’ll enjoy meeting a board member each month. Each brings invaluable knowledge, expertise, commitment, and camaraderie to the work of preserving and advancing the art and craft […]
This year The Stone Trust offers 36 regular workshop offerings across our Curriculum in Dry Stone. We’re also offering Early Bird registration at 2019 prices to people who register 6 weeks in advance. Check course listings. Take one of our three versions of Introduction to Dry Stone, the prerequisite course for our advanced offerings. We […]
The Stone Trust collaborates with like-minded organizations like the International Japanese Garden Training Center in Portland, OR. Both organizations focus on teaching traditional skills and techniques as a means of preserving craft, an art form, heritage and history. Each offers instruction to both the general public and the professional. Spring courses include With an Eye Towards […]
In part one (Stonechat 26: Summer 2012) I suggested that “poor grading can become what is in effect a self-fuelled inevitability” . This was developed in part 2 when we looked at the tendency to place large stones alongside and on top of each other leading to grouping. This however does not just apply to large stone. If we are not careful similar size stones can tend to flock together – both along and up. Small stones can lead to a ‘mushrooming’, especially if we are concentrating on sitting one on two and half on half and levelling ready for the next stone.
ANDREW PIGHILLS (Connecticut) was born in Yorkshire, England. His formal horticulture training started at The Royal Horticultural Society at Harlow Carr Gardens in Harrogate Yorkshire, and has spent several decades creating gardens and building dry stone walls in his native England, in and around the spectacular Yorkshire Dales and the English Lake District.
There are as many ways to build great stone walls as there are colors in the rainbow. From lacy singles in the Aran Islands to squat bulky consumption walls in New England. Loosely stacked round glacial outwash to the incredible joinery of the Incas. Two-tiered Galloway walls to the fascinating geometric patterns of Majorcan walls…. […]
Upcoming Events
Upcoming Events
- 2.13 Contractors Intro (3-13-2020)
March 13, 2020
9:00 am - 5:00 pm
This workshop is perfect for the landscape contractor interested in starting to build dry stone walls, or expand that line of work. In addition to the hands on building of a wall, there will be discussions of good work practices, pricing walls, proper foundations, etc.
- 2.60 Contractors Intensive (5-day) 3-16-2020
March 16, 2020 - March 20, 2020
9:00 am - 5:00 pm
- 5-day workshop
This workshop includes 4 days of training and the Dry Stone Walling Association of Great Britain (DSWA-GB) Level I (Initial) certification test on the final day. It is perfect for the landscape or masonry contractor interested in starting to build dry stone walls, or expand that line of work, and gain DSWA-GB Certification. Equivalent to a combination of courses 1.20, 2.8, and 2.9 plus much more!
- 2.13 Contractors Intro - March 28, 2020
March 28, 2020
9:00 am - 5:00 pm
This workshop is perfect for the landscape contractor interested in starting to build dry stone walls, or expand that line of work. In addition to the hands on building of a wall, there will be discussions of good work practices, pricing walls, proper foundations, etc.
- 1.11 Women's Introductory Indoor Workshop 4-4-2020
April 4, 2020
9:00 am - 5:00 pm
- 1-day workshop attendance
A chance to learn from the women in North America who are DSWA Certifed Instructors! This workshop is an excellent introduction to dry stone walling for the homeowner, landscaper/gardener, artist, or hobbyist. Over the course of the day each participant will build about 25 sq ft of wall (one side), using natural round fieldstone. You will learn all the basic rules of structural walling that can be applied to any type of stone and project.
- 1.10 Introductory Indoor Workshop (4-5-2020)
April 5, 2020
9:00 am - 5:00 pm
This workshop is an excellent introduction to dry stone walling for the homeowner, hobbyist, or anyone interested in Dry Stone Walls Over the course of the day each participant will build about 25 sq. ft. of wall…
- Batter Frames Workshop 4/18/2020
April 18, 2020
9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Proper set up and use of batter frames and string lines is a real challenge for many wallers. We continually hear from examiners that poor use of string lines is one of the biggest reasons that wallers fail certification tests. You will learn multiple ways to build frames and use string lines to improve the efficiency of your building process and quality of the walls you build. PREREQUISITE: This workshop is intended for wallers who have taken one or more prior workshops, are level 1 or higher certified, or have experience building stone walls.
- 1.10 Introductory Indoor Workshop (4-18-2020)
April 18, 2020
9:00 am - 5:00 pm
This workshop is an excellent introduction to dry stone walling for the homeowner, hobbyist, or anyone interested in Dry Stone Walls Over the course of the day each participant will build about 25 sq. ft. of wall…