Fall 2016 Certification Day
Stonework by Jo Hodgson
Women's Dry Stone Walling Workshop
Stonework by Jared Flynn
Photo by Ron Kantor
Irish Fedien Wall Workshop in Progress
Stonework by Jared Grant
Dry Stone Walling Workshop
Stonework by Brian Fairfield
Built with assistance from several certified wallers
Dry Stone Walling Workshop
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
Starting with quarried material, and some boulders from the site, participants in this workshop honed their skills in breaking and splitting large stone, as well as chisel and hammer techniques for refined shaping.
Taking their skill to the next level, these participants had a fun day of learning the basics of small arch building.
We’re excited to announce we’ve been working on a special edition t-shirt exclusively for participants of the Bridge Building Workshop Series.
Over the course of three days days, the participants did an amazing job transforming a linear heap of rocks, the common state of many neglected field walls, into a fantastic dry stone wall.
Coming off a successful test day, member and Certified Master Craftsman and waller Michael Weitzner wrote up these valuable pointers on preparing for and executing a successful certification test.
The Stonechat booklet – a new benefit for members!
This outdoor Introductory Walling workshop was the first one held at our new location, Broadview Farm, in Mont Vernon, NH.
8 lucky workshop participants got to work with Master Craftsman instructors Dan Snow and Cris Tanguay to build an amazing feature wall at Scott Farm. The two day workshop allowed participants to design their own pannel, and work with a variety of stone types. Some truely great wall designs emerged throughout the weekend.
Upcoming Events
Upcoming Events
- Introductory Workshop 1-day (7/14/18)
July 14, 2018
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…
Participants will be lead through setting foundation stones, building and hearting, setting throughstones, and copes!
- Bridge Stone Shaping (3 of 3) 7/15/18
July 15, 2018
9:00 am - 5:00 pm
This workshop will spend the day learning how to shape stones for use in an arched bridge. The main priority will be making the voussoirs (tapered stones forming the arch). Both hand and power tools will likely be demonstrated and used.
This stone shaping workshop will focus on making the stones needed for the bridge build in September. However, these techniques can be applied to all kinds of stone shaping and walling. The assumption is that participants taking this workshop already know at least the basics of dry stone walling. This workshop will delve into stone shaping and to a much greater level of detail than workshops that focus on wall building.
- Retaining wall workshop 8/11/18
August 11, 2018
9:00 am - 5:00 pm
- 1-day workshop attendance
Here in the Northeast, many of the walls people are building are retaining walls. While all the principals of a free standing wall apply there are additional rules and methods to follow when building retaining walls. The focus needs to be on a sound structure that will last for generations. Local round field stone will be used for this wall.
- Women's Introductory Indoor Workshop 8/12/18
August 12, 2018
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.
- Introductory Workshop 1-day (8/25/18)
August 25, 2018
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…
Participants will be lead through setting foundation stones, building and hearting, setting throughstones, and copes!
- Bridge Site Prep (8/26/18)
August 26, 2018
9:00 am - 5:00 pm
This workshop will spend the day getting ready for the bridge building. We will be finishing excavating for the foundation, setting in foundation stones, building and placing the form work, and other tasks needed to get ready to build a bridge. This is the workshop where you will really get to see all the components laid out and learn math behind the design and more.
- Bridge Tour (9/7/18)
September 7, 2018
9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Learn about the amazing dry stone bridges (and perhaps a few mortared ones) of Southern New Hampshire. This guided tour will get you an up close look at some of the best historic examples of dry stone bridges in New England. Open to everyone!
More information coming soon!