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 it’s 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
As I drove along back roads in Connecticut, I noticed the old stone walls marking the boundaries of grassy fields, but in Mark Mennin’s driveway, huge sections of fluted marble columns, five feet tall and five feet wide, were carefully arranged along the edge. This turned out to be just one example of many collected treasures that crowd into Mark’s back yard. I opened my car door and stood there for a moment, intrigued, as I surveyed huge stones resting everywhere and thought to myself, here is yet another artist who declares his love of material by amassing great quantities of stone.
Many of the granite blocks had been hand selected for a specific project. Others found their way to Mark’s back yard by chance. People who know his work call when they come across a unique find, confident he can put any stone to good use. Mark has personal relationships with quarries all over the world and has formed lasting friendships with many stone yard foremen and managers. He had a story to tell about each slab and block he introduced me to, as if I was meeting his best friends. His enthusiasm for the unique qualities of stone kept me enthralled and engaged for more than an hour.
SAM BRAKELY (Vermont) Sam has been building trails since age eight, and has progressed to complex trail constructions throughout New England. Sam’s trail building work led him to working with stone, and he has been building dry stone walls for more than 5 years. Having taken many prior workshops at The Stone Trust, Sam is now DSWA-GB Level 2 Certified as well as a Certified Dry Stone Walling instructor. http://hermitwoodstrailbuilders.com
Jared Grant (Maine), featured in The Stone Trust’s 2017 Calendar, has been a dry stone enthusiast since he learned such a thing existed. As a younger man, he traveled the globe, learning from other wallers and masons along the way, always keeping an eye out for unique designs and applications for use in future projects. It was his years on walkabout that inspired his current use of dry stone walling and fuels his passion for the craft. Today Jared lives in Belfast, Maine where he is the sole proprietor of Shangri-La Stoneworks, a small drystone construction business. Jared is a DSWA-GB Certified Level 2 waller and instructor. http://www.shangrilastoneworks.com
We have just launched this new version of our website on 7/1/17. We hope you like it! If you do find anything that is not working properly please notify us at brian.post@thestonetrust.org so we can correct the problem. There are a few things we are currently correcting like the photos in the recent blog posts.
EVENT DETAILS
On Saturday, July 15th, The Cultural Landscape Foundation will sponsor a garden dialogue with Robin Key of RKLA Studio in conversation with artist, Dan Snow.
July 15th from 2 – 4 PM
Borderline Farm
2455 Spring Hill Road
South Londonderry, VT 05155
Tickets for Garden Dialogues are tax deductible and proceeds benefit the educational programs of The Cultural Landscape Foundation.
2.0 LA CES™ Professional development hours will be available to attendees.
We have had a few questions about what the stone will be like at our Eureka Rd. Training Site in Springfield VT. Workshop preparation work started yesterday, so now that we have done some clearing you can get a sense of the stone in the photos and video available here.
The stone tends to be a mix of tumbled granite glacial till, along with some pieces of the local ledge which is a mix angular shapes with occasional flat ones. Most of the stone is reasonably shape-able, so will will have some hammers out at the workshops.
“How much should I charge?” and “How much do you charge?” I’m frequently asked these questions by people thinking about starting a new business or getting into a new product line or service. Prices are a common topic of conversation for those of us already in business, and we frequently compare our prices to those of others.
Financial success in business amounts to bringing in more money than goes out. If pricing isn’t realistic, it doesn’t matter how hard you work: the business won’t last long. Remember, it’s not how much money that goes through your business that is important, it’s how much money sticks!
The Stone Trust’s 1st ever hard copy member newsletter has just been sent out today! If your a member it should be arriving soon. If not sign up as a member and we will sent it right out to you!
This 16 page newsletter contains exclusive content that dry stone wallers and wall enthusiasts will find informative and interesting.
Upcoming Events
Upcoming Events
- Test Preparation Workshop (Fall)
September 8, 2017
8:30 am - 5:30 pm
This workshop is intended for those planning to take a certification test. Learning tips and tricks to help you pass, while you practice build for your test.
- Flagging Workshop
September 8, 2017
8:30 am - 4:30 pm
- 1 day workshop attendance
Learn the fundamentals of dry set flagging for patios and walkways.
- Fall Two Day Workshop: Level 1& 2 (9/9 & 10/2017)
September 9, 2017 - September 10, 2017
5:10 pm - 4:30 pm
Learn how to build a traditional dry-stacked stone wall with Master Craftsman Chris Tanguay and Kim and Jerry Coggin (both DSWA-GB Certifiied Level 2).
- MONDAY 9-11-17 Certification Test
September 11, 2017
7:00 am - 5:00 pm
Testing all Levels Monday Sept. 11, 2017. NOTE: You must hold the previous level certification to sign up for any test above level 1. Click here to return to test day information page. THE REGISTRATION DEADLINE IS MONDAY AUGUST 1ST! NO LATE REGISTRATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED.
- Site Prep Workshop at Eureka Rd 10-6-17
October 6, 2017
8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Workshop Level: 1. Up to 16 participants with 2 Certified Instructors. Open to everyone. $200 This workshop is an excellent introduction to dry stone walling for the homeowner, hobbyist, or anyone interested in Dry Stone Walls. Workshop participants will learn the needed site preparation for building a wall. Participants will be lead through discussions of sourcing and selection stone to use, and preparing the foundation. For the better part of the day, participants will be learn from and be working along side the instructors setting up batter frames and sorting stone for building.
- Two Day Workshop Eureka Rd: Level 1& 2 (10/7&8/2017)
October 7, 2017 - October 8, 2017
8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Learn how to rebuild a historic field wall in a beautiful Vermont setting. Master Craftsman, Brian Post, will be the lead instructor along with Seth Harris (DSWA Certified Level 2). Participants will be guided through all aspects of rebuilding a dilapidated field wall using the local field stone.