Do you have a group of friends or family members interested in learning to build dry stone walls? You can schedule a workshop just for your group. This type of custom workshop usually is based on our 1.20 Two-Day Introductory Workshop, if at your property or or 1.10 One-Day introductory workshop if at one of our sites. But it can be based on many of our courses, or customized to your needs.
For this type of custom workshop you will be responsible for the other participants. We will provide you with information to pass on for what to bring etc. If the workshop is to be held at your location, you will be responsible for getting the site prepared with our guidance. Often it is best to contract with one of our professional members to assist with this.
Key Information:
- For most walling workshops 1 instructor can teach up to 8 participants.
- Workshops hosted at a Stone Trust Training Site cost $1375 per instructor, per day.
- Workshops hosted at your site cost $1800 per instructor, per day. Additional travel travel and set up charges may also apply
- The Stone Trust does not handle participant registrations or promote this type of workshop
Workshops at Your Location:
Have our instructors come to you! This has the advantage of learning with the stone you have and it reduces your travel time and expenses. The workshops will most often result in a nice section of wall that can begin your walling project too.
To host a workshop you will need a suitable site and stone to work with.
When we come to your site we bring all the tools and supplies you would find at one of our primary locations. Participants will go home with a packet of information, a certificate of completion, and a Stone Trust t-shirt. We also bring tents for rain or shade, visual teaching aids, tools for workshop participants to use, and retail sales of tools and books.
Workshops at a The Stone Trust site:
If you choose to bring your group to one of our training sites they will get to see a wide range of dry stone walls and features. They will get to experience learning in a well set up workshop environment, and depending on the site, get to work with a range of stone types. For early spring or late fall workshops can even be held in our indoor training center.
Workshops hosted at our training sites are typically 1 or 2 days. Any of our standard course curriculum can be taught (see course catalog), from introductory walling to flagging/patios, steps, retaining walls, stone shaping and more. Curriculum can be modified and combined so your employees can get the most out of the training experience. One advantage of doing a custom workshop at one of our sites is that we can do a 1-day curriculum (workshops at other locations generally need to be 2 or more days).
Our training sites are in Dummerston VT, Mont Vernon NH, and Springfield VT.
Site Suitability Check List:
Stone (for all sites):
- Are the majority of the stones of a size that can be lifted by a person? (The majority of the stones should weigh under 50lbs, with many 10-20lb stones).
- Is there a suitable volume of stone? (2 tons per workshop participant minimum)
- Is there a suitable volume of all sizes needed (foundation stones, hearting, building stone, through stones and copes)? The Stone Trust can advise on this.
For all Outdoor workshop sites (rebuilding an old wall and new walls)
- Is there a minimum of 12′ clear space either side of the wall that is relatively flat, and has few obstructions (trees etc).
- Is there any machinery on site for moving stone? (skid steer, tractor, loader, etc) It is helpful if there is.
- Is there any poison ivy (or similar) on site? Workshop sites need to be completely free of poison ivy.
- Is there loud traffic or other noise? There should not be noise that keeps workshop participants from hearing the instructors.
- Is the wall close to a busy road? Workshop sites should not be where a car going off the road could hit participants?
For sites rebuilding an existing wall:
- Is the wall free standing? Retaining walls are usually only good for advanced workshops.
- Is the wall straight? Curved walls are only for advanced workshops.
- Is the wall a double stack wall (separate stones on each side)? Single stack walls, and other variations are generally not good for workshops.
- Is the wall on level ground? The workshop site should not be on slopes over 5% or so.
- Is there any brush or debris that needs to be cleared? Workshop sites should be ready for the stonework to begin.
- Is a finished height of 42″ to 66″ suitable for the site? That is the reasonable height range for a workshop wall.
- Is there enough stone in the existing wall, or a plan for getting additional needed stone?
Hospitality Requirements:
- Bathroom (portable toilet suffices)
- Parking
- On site electricity, potable water, and seating or a classroom space are nice bonuses, but not requirements.