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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!

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From the Blog

    End of year support
    Posted December 14, 2019

    Many thanks to all of you who support our mission to preserve and advance the art and craft of dry stone walling. We are grateful to those of you who come to learn through our workshops and to the walling professionals who ply the trade, especially our Pro Members whose membership helps fund the work […]


    Correction: December Waller of the Month
    Posted December 14, 2019

    Apologies to Brian Post, The STONE Trust’s December Waller of the Month, and to November’s Waller Jared Grant. We got our links mixed up. To learn more about each of these professional wallers, follow the links.


    Workshop participant retaining wall project
    Posted December 10, 2019
    Fr. Fredrick Byrne has attended several workshops over the past few years and recently took a moment to send us a few pictures.  This is the first wall he built on the Saint Vincent College campus, using the knowledge gained from the workshops he took.   Fred writes that most of the stone used was [...]
    Good batter frames keep a complex project on track
    Posted December 10, 2019
    When working on complex projects with lots of angles and features having good batter frames and guides makes it possible for a large crew to stay on track and build efficiently.  This video shows the results that can be achieved from good batterframe usage.  As with any project much of the construction set up and [...]
    How to Build a Dry Stone Wall for a Bridge: Peter Welch
    Posted December 5, 2019

    Watch as we build a dry stone wall to protect a bridge abutment. This video shows how to build a stone wall for the town of Marlboro, Vermont. The project is two wing walls on the upstream side of a bridge. In this video, you will see how to use the Standards of Dry Stone […]


    Waller of the month: Brian Post
    Posted December 5, 2019

    JARED GRANT (Maine) began building stone walls in 2000, and now owns and operates Shangri-La Stoneworks. The majority of his work is dry stone construction, including garden settings, outdoor living spaces, walls, and flatwork.


    Stringlines: Thoughts from Our Board President
    Posted December 5, 2019

    At first snow I get the question; so what do you do in the winter anyway?   Some wallers persist through the season.  Tents and heaters and a happy face they say!  I am not so inclined. You would think that means I have spare time on my hands but such is not the case. All […]


    Masterclass: Problems and Planning, Part 3
    Posted December 3, 2019

    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.


    Stone Shaping in Mother Earth News
    Posted December 3, 2019
    Basic Techniques for Shaping Stone by Hand was published in the December/January issue of Mother Earth News.  Written by Brian Post, with photos by Tom Hutten, the detailed 6 page article shows different techniques for shaping stone using a variety of hammers and chisels.   All of the tools used are available at The Stone Trust [...]
    Now available: 2020 Stone Trust Calendars and Mugs
    Posted November 26, 2019

    Registration for 2020 spring workshops is now open!


Upcoming Events

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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.


  • 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…

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