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.

Revised 2020 Course Schedule

Posted April 1, 2020
Lend me the stone strength of the past and I will lend you The wings of the future... --Robinson Jeffers, To the Rock That Will Be a Cornerstone Dear Members and Friends of The Stone Trust, We are pleased to share with you our revised schedule of courses. Using the best information we can get [...]


Participant Submissions–Luke Driver

Posted March 27, 2020
Luke Driver, workshop/test participant signed up for later this year, sent a photo of his current project, writing, “Last leg of 356” of new wall. 65 yards of hand picked stone through my hands!” He adds, “I apprenticed under a Portuguese master. The flat stone around Narragansett Bay is similar to his native land.” Luke […]



Meet Michael Murphy, Board Member

Posted March 27, 2020
Many thanks to fellow board member Paul Peterson for researching and writing this profile of Michael. Michael has been on the board of the Stone Trust since 2016 and has earned Level III and instructor certifications from the Dry Stone Walling Association of  of Great Britain (DSWA-GB). Michael began working in stone on a casual [...]


Our Constituents Respond to the COVID-19 Disruption with Generosity, Realism, and Patience

Posted March 27, 2020
Dear Supporters of The Stone Trust, I wanted to share with you some of the responses we have received since announcing the postponement of our 2020 Course Schedule. They reflect generosity, realism, patience, and appreciation of the quality of programming and experience that the founders, board members, and staff have developed since our founding a […]



Jumping the Level 2 Hurdle: Reprise #4–Building Up: Visual Sizing, Cutting and Shaping, Tracing

Posted March 27, 2020
by Michael Murphy In theory there is no difference between theory and practice. But in practice there is. --  Jan van de Snepscheut BUILDING UP: VISUAL SIZING, CUTTING AND SHAPING, TRACING Going up often requires a 3-on-1 scenario. This is due to both length and material availability.  The 3-on-1 is fine. For purposes of this [...]


Seven Newly Certified Wallers Complete Contractors 5-Day Intensive @ Stoneyard

Posted March 26, 2020
Seven participants of the eight participants registered for the spring 5-Day Contractors Intensive arrived at Stoneyard in Littleton by March 16, just as public health officials began to make clear the urgency of the COVID-19 pandemic. One person, coming from Arkansas, decided with the better part of wisdom to postpone participation, concerned that an eventual [...]


2020 Season Opens with Contractors 1-day at Stoneyard

Posted March 26, 2020
Held indoors at Stoneyard in Littleton, MA, ten contractors enjoyed a day of hands-on learning, connecting with other contractors and a feeling of accomplishment by building their own section of dry stone wall.



March Waller of the Month: Dario Coletta

Posted March 25, 2020
DARIO COLETTA (Massachusetts) has spent the last 10 years or so designing and building in dry stone in the western part of the state. He holds Level II DSWA-GB Certification. Dario writes: “The Stone Trust has really been the key for my continuing improvement and dedication to the fine art of stonework. Every visit to the Trust, whether taking a workshop, testing, instructing, or volunteering, inspires me to improve my craft.”



Masterclass: Theory of Corbelling

Posted March 25, 2020
Not sure this should really be called a masterclass seeing as how I’ve never really carried out structural corbelling. Mind you I don’t suppose it’s ever stopped me spouting on authoritatively before, so why stop now? I have of course used the principle of cantilevering, have some experience of in effect corbelling the bottom and top of the vase whose construction was shown in “Stonechat 16”, and have a smattering of an understanding of mathematics and structural physics so here goes nothing…
and by the way having a pack of playing cards handy might prove useful.


Postponing Workshops and Events through May

Posted March 20, 2020
Dear Supporters of The Stone Trust, Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, The Stone Trust is postponing all workshops and events at least through the end of May. We will reschedule as much as possible from June or July through the end of the year, prioritizing 1) workshops for which there is a high level of […]