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.

A poem that some may find apt, or not…

Posted April 10, 2020
The War in the Air Howard Nemerov   For a saving grace, we didn’t see our dead, Who rarely bothered to come home to die But simply stayed away out there In the clean war, the war in the air.   Seldom the ghosts came back bearing their tales Of hitting the earth, the incompressible […]



Four Types of Workshops Introduce You to Dry Stone Walling

Posted April 10, 2020
1-Day Introduction to Dry Stone Walling 1-Day Women's Introduction to Dry Stone Walling 1-Day Contractors Introduction to Dry Stone Walling 2-Day Introduction to Dry Stone Walling See our Curriculum in Dry Stone for an overview. People often ask about the differences between our 1-Day and 2-Day Intro workshops. In a nutshell, both courses teach the [...]


Covid-19 Emergency Disaster Loan (Grant)

Posted April 9, 2020
Many small business owners and self employed people are scrambling to adjust right now.   Most wallers are in this category. The truly exciting part of this EDL program is that the first $10,000 of the ‘loan’ is forgiven. Meaning that you will not have to pay it back. They call this a $10k Advance. Amounts larger than that are a loan and will have to be paid back. Based on all the information I have seen to date, there is no reason to not apply for the $10,000. You should apply for this ASAP as it is likely the program will run out of funding.



Using Trow and Holden Stone Buster Hammers

Posted April 9, 2020
Brian Post shows how the Trow and Holden Stone Buster Hammers can be used to do all kinds of trimming and shaping on some Vermont fieldstone.
Brian finds about 80% of the shaping he does when working fieldstone is done with these hammers.  They are versatile, powerful, and can be used with great accuracy as well.  You never have to worry about hitting your hand again with these hammers.
As of April 9, 2020, The Stone Trust has a good inventory of these hammers intended for sale at spring workshops.  We are still shipping tools, even when other suppliers are closed down due to Covid-19.  So place your order, and start enjoying shaping your own stone, while also helping the Stone Trust manage its tight cash flow at this time.



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 [...]