Feature Build at Scott Farm
Arch Bridge Workshop
Arch by Torben Larsen
Women's Dry Stone Walling Workshop
Stone Steps by Michael Weitzner
Instructor Certification Course 2018
Stonework by TJ Mora
Stone Arch Bridge Tour, Southern NH
Small Stone Arch Workshop
Stonework by David Fielder
Intro to Dry Stone Walling Workshop
Stonework by Brian Post
Welcome to The Stone Trust website! To review our 2021 schedule of workshops, click here. Please scroll down to subscribe to our virtual newsletter. If you would like to receive a copy of our 2021 Annual Newsletter, join us as a member!
Feel free to visit the Stone Wall Park any time during daylight hours. You may also want to download a map of nearby dry stone features built by local wallers. Check out the Scott Farm, site of The Stone Trust Center.
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
- HELP WANTED – Available Waller Positions
- 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
Learned a lot and want to know more: Late April’s Introduction to Dry Stone Walling Awesome time learning to shape stone! Retaining walls are hard, but fun! Thanks for coming to April’s flagging-patio workshop Building steps and stairs: A wall with extremely modified batter Join us for Medley Weekends in New Hampshire in July […]
Peekskill Youth Workshop -Saturday, April 30, 2022 (Custom Workshop)
Its one thing to work on a beautiful workshop wall at The Stone Trust where walls go up and down every month, its another to dive into an historic farm wall that has been part of the landscape for over 100 years. It creates a sense of respect to think that the wall that we are rebuilding will hopefully be around for another 100 years.
JERRY COGGIN (Pennsylvania) — Jerry has been working in the craft of drystone for about 10 years. My wife Kim’s passion for the craft was the initial influence to get me started. However, as a friend in New Hampshire so aptly states, “it is a slippery slope” and once you get started it can be quite addictive due to sense of accomplishment, and the sheer majesty of the finished product.
The Sencore 4.5″ Turbo Diamond Blade is a fast cutting diamond blade for stone. Far better than anything you will find in a local hardware store. It is used with the flush cut adapter for enhanced capabilities. Mounts on any typical 4.5″ angle grinder. PLEASE NOTE: It important to always wear a proper respirator when cutting stone.
FIRST VOLUNTEER DAY this Thursday, April 21st from 9am to 5pm at Dutton Farms in Dummerston, VT!
The St Kilda island group lies about 40 miles west of the Hebridean island of North Uist. Village Bay, on the southeast corner of Hirta, the largest island, has a wealth of stonework. The head dyke quite clearly separates the arable ground from the hill pasture. The other main feature is the line of the village street. Drystone Blackhouses, built in the 1830’s sit between 16 stone and lime cottages built in the 1860’s. Behind the street lies the circular graveyard, planticrues and enclosures for livestock.
A cool, gray, late-April day greeted the ten of you who came to build steps and stairs. You analyzed the structure and composition of four different existing stairways, one made of large granite steps, a couple from large slabs of schist, one constructed of smaller stones. Somebody said, “Great workshop! I appreciated the exposure to several types of stairs and associated challenges.”
Thanks for coming to April’s Flagging-Patio Workshop! It looks like you got what you came for and had a good time. For the most part, you express confidence in your ability to take what you learned and apply it to your own projects. Enjoy! To see examples of flatwork, visit our photo gallery.
One of our Stone Trust instructors always invites students to leave the wall better than they found it. They usually do, just like you did! You are the first workshop to apply the five basic rules of dry stone walling to the retaining wall you stripped out and rebuilt. In 2020 we built that wall to accommodate social distance, but no occasion arose to teach on it. Thanks for building it better!
Upcoming Events
Upcoming Events
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2.40 Cheek End Workshop (2-Day, Outdoor) - June 25 & 26, 2022 (Barre, VT)
2-day workshop attendance
June 25, 2022 - June 26, 2022
9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Whenever your building a wall, sooner or later it must come to an end. A cheek end is the typical way to end a wall. It is also called a wall end, wall head, or square end. Cheek ends are a particular challenge to build well and structurally are the most vulnerable part of a wall, so it is important to get it right.
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2.13 Contractors Intro (1-Day): July 7, 2022 (Mont Vernon, NH)
July 7, 2022
9:00 am - 5:00 pm
This workshop is perfect for the landscape contractor interested in starting to build dry stone walls, or expand that line of work. In addition to the hands on building of a wall, there will be discussions of good work practices, pricing walls, proper foundations, etc.
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2.20 Retaining Wall Workshop (1 Day, Outdoor): July 08, 2022 (Mont Vernon, NH)
1-day workshop attendance
July 8, 2022
9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Participants will learn how to maximize strength for a retaining wall while following the basic rules. Foundations, drainage, perforated pipe, filter fabric, geo-textiles and more are all discussed or demonstrated. This workshop is intended to give you the information to make wise decisions on your own projects. It is well suited for both homeowners and contractors. PREREQUISITE: any 1.00 level course, or 2.10, or 2.13
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2.50 Intro to Stone Shaping Workshop (1-Day): July 08, 2022 (Mont Vernon, NH)
1-Day workshop
July 8, 2022
9:00 am - 5:00 pm
This workshop will spend the day learning about how to shape stones for use in dry stone walls. Participants will be introduced to a variety of stone types, and how to work with them. Both hand and power tools will be demonstrated and used. The stone shaping portion will focus on efficient practices, learning how to look at a stone and judge how to shape it, as well as proper use and care of tools. PREREQUISITE: Open to those who have taken at least one Level 1 workshop
(or are experienced wallers).
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3.20 Flagging/Patio Workshop: (1-Day), July 09, 2022 (Mont Vernon, NH)
1 day workshop attendance
July 9, 2022
9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Have a patio or walk way to build? This is the workshop for you!
Learn the fundamentals of patio construction in a fun, energetic, hands-on environment. While not strictly dry stone walling, flat-work is a common part of many projects. Doing a good job starts with a good foundation, and finishes with an attractive pattern of stone. This workshop will teach you how to do flat-work that stays flat and attractive for decades.
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2.50 Intro to Stone Shaping Workshop (1-Day): July 09, 2022 (Minneapolis, MN)
1-Day workshop
July 9, 2022
9:00 am - 5:00 pm
This workshop will spend the day learning about how to shape stones for use in dry stone walls. Participants will be introduced to a variety of stone types, and how to work with them. Both hand and power tools will be demonstrated and used. The stone shaping portion will focus on efficient practices, learning how to look at a stone and judge how to shape it, as well as proper use and care of tools. PREREQUISITE: Open to those who have taken at least one Level 1 workshop
(or are experienced wallers).
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3.10 Dry Stone Steps & Stairs Workshop (1-Day): July 10, 2022 (Mont Vernon NH)
1-day workshop attendance
July 10, 2022
9:00 am - 5:00 pm
This workshop is all about building dry stone steps. You will learn tips and techniques to build several types of stone steps. Layout, design, stone shaping, tool use, and methods for handling large stones will all be part of this workshop.