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.

Events and Items of Interest, September 28

Posted September 29, 2020
October Workshops Two spots left in our last 2020 2-Day Intro to Dry Stone Walling/Cheek End Rebuild workshops, October 3 & 4, Isanti, MN Come learn to shape stone with Seth Harris, Brian Post, and TJ Mora, 10/16, Dummerston, VT. Four spaces left. Jared Flynn and Sam Brakeley teach the Contractors Intro, 10/16, Dummerston. We […]



Meet Ed Marrinan, Board Member

Posted September 29, 2020
Many thanks to fellow board member Paul Peterson for interviewing Ed and writing this profile. Ed joined the board of The Stone Trust (TST) in January 2020. He has spent his entire professional career working in finance, but when he took an introductory course with TST in 2014, as he says, “I was bitten by [...]


Polygonal Masonry

Posted September 28, 2020
Whilst polygonal walls are a feature of a number of Mediterranean countries, perhaps the most famous polygonal walls are the Inca walls of Peru, of Machu Picchu, Cuzco and llantaytambo. These walls take `tightness` to extremes, as can be seen from the cover photo of the famous ”12 sided stone of Hatunrumiyoc” in the wall of the Inka Roq`e`s palace in
Cuzco.



September Waller of the Month: Seth Bullock

Posted September 28, 2020
SETH BULLOCK (Maine) is passionate about the art and craft of dry stone walling and educating clients and others in the trade about the longevity and quality in which proper walling brings.



Fall Test Days 2020–Everyone Passed!

Posted September 24, 2020
The Stone Trust usually hosts two test days for people challenging themselves to achieve higher levels of certification through the Dry Stone Walling Association of Great Britain. This year, for obvious reasons, we cancelled the spring test day.  Most of the people who signed up to test last spring followed up on their aspirations this [...]


2-Day Intro and Cheek Ends: Sept. 19 & 20, 2020

Posted September 22, 2020
Our 2-Day Introduction to Dry Stone Walling often runs simultaneously with a 2-Day Cheek Rebuild workshop. Both happen in the same place on the same wall(s). People new to building a double-face, freestanding dry stone wall build the middle section. People who have already learned the basics sign up to learn how to complete the [...]


Steps & Stairs Workshop: Sept. 12 & 13, 2020

Posted September 14, 2020
Eight participants enjoyed lots of one-on-one time with three experienced instructors!



1-Day Intro Workshop: Sept. 12, 2020

Posted September 14, 2020
What brings people to an Introduction to Dry Stone Walling workshop? For some people it's a visit to Scott Farm's orchard to pick apples. They experience the Stone Wall Park and follow the intrigue. For others it's the purchase of a home with 200-year-old stone walls that they feel inspired to rebuild. Some people come [...]


Test Prep Workshop: Sept. 12, 2020

Posted September 14, 2020
This season's last Test Prep workshop took place on Saturday, one of the first relatively cool and cloudy days, which made walling a joy. Heather, Owen, Jordan, and John came to be sure they are ready to pass their Level 1 certification test this coming Thursday or Friday. Michael arrived for a last practice before [...]


Master Class: Arcane Walling – Globes and Vases/Urns

Posted August 26, 2020
The content below was copied with the generous permission of the author Sean Adcock.  This Master Class article originally appeared in the Autumn 2008 issue of Stonechat, produced by the North Wales Branch of the Dry Stone Walling Association of Great Brittan.  This entire issue of Stonechat, and many more, are available at http://www.dswales.org.uk/Stonechat.html   Thank [...]