“Stone walls have been in my life since I was a child,” one of the participants in the Flagging workshop reported. Like many of the weekend’s participants, she brought extensive professional experience of designing and building with stone. Fundamentals of Flagging ranks among the advanced classes in our Curriculum in Dry Stone.
The class included two Dry Stone Walling Association of Great Britain (DSWA-GB) certified Level 1 wallers, a Master gardener, and many people who learned the basic principles of dry stone walling in introductory workshops and never looked back. One wrote, “I learn something each time I build a wall and know that there is still more for me to learn.” That quest for understanding keeps people returning. In the process, they get to feel like friends in walling!
Certified instructors Brian Post and Torben Larsen spent a Sunday prior to the workshops prepping the site so it was social-distance ready. Pre pandemic, participants worked together to lay flatwork sections. Now, with the guidance of Stone Trust Director of Education and Training Brian Post, instructors have redesigned our infrastructure and adapted the ways they teach the curriculum to the new conditions. Seems to be working! People said they enjoyed designing and building their individual pads. They appreciated the on-to-one attention, and learning how to cut stone with a chisel. We appreciate students positive feedback and constructive criticism, and we thank everyone for their patience as we revise our program to meet contemporary needs.