All workshops are taught by instructors that are certified by the Dry Stone Walling Association of Great Britain (DSWA). To gain Instructor Certification one must already hold Level 2 or higher DSWA dry stone walling certification and must attend a DSWA instructor training course. The course covers learning and teaching styles as well as dry stone wall instruction.
In 2011 The Stone Trust held the first DSWA-GB Instructor Training course outside of Great Britain. The Stone Trust now typically holds an instructors course every other year, and is the only place outside of Great Britain where wallers can become DSWA-GB certified instructors.
A full list of all certified dry stone walling instructors in North America coming soon.
Selected Instructor Bios:
Many DSWA certified instructors teach workshops at The Stone Trust. Brief bio’s of frequent instructors are below.
Alex Hoffmeier
ALEX HOFFMEIER moved to Vermont in 2004 and earned a Masters of Arts in Landscape Design from the Conway School.
Andras Lazar
Andras Lazar is a DSWA-GB Level II certified and a certified instructor. He was born in Hungary in 1950.
Ben Maron
BEN MARON is the proprietor of Kraftwight, a landscape construction company with a focus on stonework, based in Red Hook NY. He has a love for stone, learning new techniques and sharing his knowledge and experience.
Brian Post
BRIAN POST, a Certified DSWA-GB Master Craftsman and Licensed Landscape Architect, started building walls at age 10…
Dan Snow
DAN SNOW is an art maker specializing is dry stone constructions. He has been building with stone since 1972.
Daniel Arabella
DANIEL ARABELLA (Minnesota) holds DSWA-GB Advanced (Level III) and Instructor Certification. He is the owner of Arabella Stone Co. and has an extensive background in the arts and construction industries which provides a blend of skills and a fresh approach to a traditional craft.
Daniel Peterson
DANIEL PETERSON (Minnesota) holds DSWA-GB Advanced (Level III) and Instructor Certification. He is the owner and designer at HabAdapt Landscape Design, focusing on long-term sustainability and functionality.
Dario Coletta
Dario Coletta runs D.C. Stoneworks out of Plainfield MA. Dario is DSWA-GB Level II certified and a certified instructor.
Hilary Dees
Hilary’s journey with stone started in Kansas at her grandparents’ 1884 limestone house on the prairie. She is certified with the Dry Stone Walling Association of Great Britain and with the Dry Stone Conservancy.
Jamie Masefield
JAMIE MASEFIELD is inspired by the ancient craft of dry stone masonry and feels passionate that it has an important role to play in a modern society.
Jared Flynn
JARED FLYNN is a native Vermonter who’s passion is the preservation of Dry Stone Walls. As a founding member of the Stone Trust his efforts have supported Dry Stone enthusiasts and professionals with access to all things related to Walling.
Jerry Coggin
JERRY COGGIN has been working with drystone in one capacity or another since 2010. He started out assisting his wife Kim on her projects and very quickly realized how rewarding working with drystone can be.
Jordan Keyes
JORDAN KEYES’ work with The Stone Trust and walling has become the confluence of personal and professional pursuits.
Judy Rand
JUDY RAND is a certified instructor and attained her DSWA-GB Level II certification in Derbyshire, England. Judy has an artistic background…
Karl Gifford
KARL GIFFORD (Maine) spent 11 years doing trail work with several organizations in New England.
Kim Coggin
KIM COGGIN has been building dry stone walls and structures since 2008. Kim’s journey in stone started shortly after relocating to Pennsylvania from the Southeast…
Martin Beevers
MARTIN BEEVERS (TENNESSEE) grew up in Derbyshire, England in the heart of a countryside crisscrossed by miles of dry stone walls. These ancient walls are still very much a working part of rural life and tradition.
Michael Weitzner
MICHAEL WEITZNER has been a full-time dry stone waller/mason and a professional member of the Dry Stone Walling Association of Great Britain since 1993.
Pete Ryder
PETE RYDER got the walling bug in 2015 at a workshop at The Stone Trust. After 32 years in aerospace engineering…
Sam Brakeley
SAM BRAKELEY (Vermont) has been building trails since age eight, and has progressed to complex trail constructions throughout New England. Sam’s trail building work led him to working with stone.
Seth Harris
SETH HARRIS specializes in many types of historic crafts including stonework, fine woodworking, and blacksmithing…
Torben Larsen
Torben Larsen has decades of experience in landscaping, stonework, and running a large landscape company. Now downsized, he has taken joy from becoming certified, and producing high quality stonework. Torben is DSWA-GB Level II certified and a certified instructor.