A few years ago, a stranger I was seated next to at a wedding asked me what I did for for a living. As I told her, I watched a desperate boredom overtake her face.

I get it. Not everyone shares my affinity for stones. That’s why I go to The Stone Trust.

A nonprofit based in Dummerston, Vermont, The Stone Trust is on a mission to “preserve and advance the art and craft of dry stone walling.” It’s a place for both professionals and novices to improve their stone skills. And my skills have improved every time I’ve gone there, whether it’s for an introductory workshop or advancing my way through their certification process.

Through the Stone Trust, I’ve become a stone waller certified by the Dry Stone Walling Association of Great Britain and become a certified instructor for the Stone Trust.

But the real draw of the Stone Trust is the community that has formed around it. It’s good for the soul to spend time with people that do what you do. People that would be happy to sit next to you at a wedding.

-If you have any interest in stone, and I’m assuming you do, you need to learn more about The Stone Trust. You can do that here.

-To learn more about my experience with their certification process for dry stone wallers, go here.

-Interested in getting your hands dirty? Learn more about the wide array of workshops they offer here.