Welcome to The Stone Trust website! To review our 2022 schedule of workshops, click here. Please scroll down to subscribe to our virtual newsletter. If you would like to receive a copy of Hearting: The Annual Journal of the Stone Trust (2021), join us as a member!
Feel free to visit the Stone Wall Park any time during daylight hours. You may also want to download a map of nearby dry stone features built by local wallers. Check out the Scott Farm, site of the Stone Trust Center.
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
- HELP WANTED/WORK WANTED – Available Waller Positions and Wallers Looking for Jobs
- 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

An employee-owned, design/build landscape company located in Southern Maine
We welcome your nominations to the Stone Trust Board of Directors. Our board includes up to thirteen members. At present, twelve men and women help to set direction and provide oversight to our nonprofit 501(c)(3) educational organization. These twelve members each engage in one or more of the following committees: Executive Committee Finance Committee Governance […]

Opus 40 is the creation of renowned artist, stone mason and Bard College professor Harvey Fite. In 2021, a stone mason team of Stone Trust professional members began the conservation planning and restoration work for Fite’s 6.5 acres of remarkable earthwork sculpture. You can read about the first phase at the Opus 40 Sculptural Rock Steady Blog. […]

Our friend Stefan van Norden discovers compelling stories about people connecting themselves and others to the natural world in which we live. Over the course of the past two years, he has interviewed a remarkable collection of luminaries across a range of human endeavor.

HELP WANTED – Waller Positions Available , July 15, 2022- INSTRUCTORS IN DESIGN AND FABRICATION WITH STONE The Central Vermont Career Center working in conjunction with the Vermont Granite Museum,

You won’t want to miss the Stone Foundation’s 18th Stonework Symposium! Download the program guide here.

Antrim Grange #98- Volunteer opportunity

“Stones are strong in compression, but weak in tension,” writes Brian Post, DSWA Master Craftsman, in this very informative article on stone shaping which appeared in the Dec/Jan issue of Mother Earth News magazine. In the Basic Techniques for Shaping Stone article, Brian starts by explaining the difference between level bedded and irregular stone.

A throughstone is, as its name suggests, a stone which completely traverses the width of a wall. Its function being to tie the two faces of the wall together and to distribute the weight of the wall above them more evenly to the wall below. In North Wales they are set flush with face of the wall. In other parts of the country they project through the face of the wall (usually from both faces, but occasionally from just one).

JOE JOHONNESS (New York) — Joe has been building dry stone projects in the Sullivan County, NY area since 2017. He holds Level 1 Initial Certification from the DSWA-GB and looks forward to his next workshop with the Stone Trust. creativeearthlandscape.com
Upcoming Events
Upcoming Events
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2.50 Intro to Stone Shaping Workshop (1-Day): Sept 10, 2022 (Barre, VT))
1-Day workshop
September 10, 2022
9:00 am - 5:00 pm
This workshop will spend the day learning about how to shape stones for use in dry stone walls. Participants will be introduced to a variety of stone types, and how to work with them. Both hand and power tools will be demonstrated and used. The stone shaping portion will focus on efficient practices, learning how to look at a stone and judge how to shape it, as well as proper use and care of tools. PREREQUISITE: Open to those who have taken at least one Level 1 workshop
(or are experienced wallers).
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1.10 Introductory Workshop: (1-Day): September 10, 2022 (Dummerston VT)
September 10, 2022
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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2.80 Test Preparation Workshop: (1-Day): September 10, 2022 (Dummerston, VT)
September 10, 2022
9:00 am - 5:00 pm -
3.80 Test Preparation Workshop: (1-Day): September 10, 2022 (Dummerston, VT)
September 10, 2022
9:00 am - 5:00 pm
This workshop is intended for those planning to take a Level 1 or Level 2 certification test. Learning tips and tricks to help you pass, while you practice build for your test.
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1.11 Women's Introductory Workshop: (1-Day): September 10, 2022 (South Fork, PA)
1-day workshop attendance
September 10, 2022
9:00 am - 5:00 pm
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.
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2.90 Fall Certification Test Day: September 23, 2022 (Dummerston, VT)
1 Day attendance
September 23, 2022
8:15 am - 6:30 pm -
3.90 Fall Certification Test Day: September 23, 2022 (Dummerston, VT)
1 Day attendance
September 23, 2022
8:15 am - 6:30 pm -
4.90 Fall Certification Test Day: September 23, 2022 (Dummerston, VT)
1 Day attendance
September 23, 2022
8:15 am - 6:30 pm
Testing Levels Initial, Intermediate and Advanced (Part B). Thursday, September 23, 2020. NOTE: You must hold the previous level certification to sign up for any test above level 1. THE REGISTRATION DEADLINE is August 11th! NO LATE REGISTRATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED.
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DEPOSIT FOR : Derbyshire American Training Program 2022 -Sept 24 -Oct. 8, 2022 (UK)
First of four deposits totaling $7170. Deposits due June 1 and August 1. Balance due September 11.
September 24, 2022 - October 8, 2022
9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Please join us for the first of what we hope will be many visits to one of the heartlands of traditional dry stone walling, Derbyshire, England. We are offering you a chance to spend two weeks in the beautiful Peak District National Park, learning the traditions and techniques of dry stone walling, leading to Dry Stone Walling Association (DSWA) examination at Level 1 Initial Waller or Level 2 Intermediate Waller (recognized as professional level) depending on your current skill level.
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1.20 Two-Day Introductory Workshop - September 24 & 25, 2022 (South Fork, PA)
2-day workshop attendance
September 24, 2022 - September 25, 2022
9:00 am - 5:00 pm
This workshop is perfect for the homeowner, landscaper, mason, or enthusiast looking to start learning about how to build dry stone walls, or to improve your skills.