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/WORK WANTED – March 13, 2023 – Available Waller Positions and Wallers Looking for Jobs and Volunteer Opportunities
• 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.

The Stone Trust Supports the NH Landscape Association Field Day

Posted September 26, 2023
The New Hampshire Landscape Association (NHLA) held its second annual member Field Day at the Belknap County Fairgrounds on September 20th. Nearly 200 NHLA members were present to see and take part in a variety of landscape tasks. The Stone Trust conducted a hybrid build/workshop. Instructors Pete Ryder, Victoria Merriman, and Andras Lazar led participants [...]


October Wallers of the Month: SETH HARRIS and PATRICK LEMMON

Posted September 25, 2023
SETH HARRIS (Vermont) and PATRICK LEMMON (South Carolina) — have been collaborating together since 2018. Specializing in traditional, mass-wall stone and brick houses, they are partnering to revive the construction of holistic structural masonry homes in northern New England. Seth has a DSWA level 3 certificate and Patrick has a DSWA level 2 certificate. 



Shaping Stone at the Stone Trust Central Valley, Vermont

Posted September 15, 2023
The weekend after Labor Day was a busy one for the Stone Trust with three different workshops at three different sites. The Stone Trust Center in Dummerston, VT and at the Stone Trust Minnesota each hosted a 1-Day Introduction to Dry Stone Walling. The Stone Trust Central Valley hosted an Introduction to Stone Shaping workshop [...]


Walling in the Barn at the Stone Trust Center

Posted September 15, 2023
Early in September, when the weather was not very cooperative, a group of wallers managed to complete a one-day introductory workshop to learn about dry stone walling in the barn at the Stone Trust Center. The foundation of Scott Farm’s 1862 barn provides space safe from the weather to practice dry stone walling skills, whether [...]


Learning to Build by Repairing a Wall in Minnesota

Posted September 14, 2023
A group of novice dry stone wallers came to a one-day introductory workshop this weekend in Minnesota to learn the five basic principles of dry stone walling. All but one were local to Minnesota. One waller came from Iowa. The Upper Midwest walling community continues to grow! Thank you to instructor and site champion, Dan [...]


Underway! The Second Annual Derbyshire American Training Program

Posted September 11, 2023
Eight American wallers arrived in Manchester, England on September 2, ready to achieve Dry Stone Walling Association (DSWA) certification. They have finished their first week of training during a two-week intensive walling course led by Master Craftswoman Sally Hodgson with support from Master Craftsman Trevor Wragg, both highly respected figures in the walling world with [...]


Tool Guide: Choosing a Hammer: THE HAMMER POINT

Posted August 31, 2023
It may be that you already have a pair of stone busters  in your tool chest. Though the Trow & Holden 2lb Hammer Point Hammers work with the same principal, this hammer has another strong suit. The hammer points round point is ideal for removing high spots, again keeps you hand out of harms way when striking.



Reading List – The How To – Essential Edition

Posted August 31, 2023
Here is beginning spot for your dry stone walling library, just in case you wanted to narrow it down to the essential starter list of titles. This curated collection is solid foundation to return to time and time again and is  dedicated to the “How To” of dry stone walling.



Master Class: Potato Houses – Part 2

Posted August 30, 2023
Having graduated to houses I should mention an interesting little booklet “An Illustrated Guide to Stone Antiquities on The North Yorkshire Moors” by Elizabeth Ogilvy which I acquired many years ago and includes an entry on “Potato Houses”.



September Waller of the Month: BENJAMIN MARON

Posted August 28, 2023
BENJAMIN MARON (New York) — In 2002, Benjamin founded Kraftwright, dedicated to designing and constructing dry stonework throughout the Hudson Valley. He holds a Dry Stone Walling Association Level 2 Waller Certification and has been a certified instructor since 2016. He has assisted with the restoration of Opus 40, a large environmental sculpture in Saugerties, New York.