How to build a Dry Stone Wall

 Yesterday I completed the wall in front of the old school house at Parmelee Farm.

A wall that was started last November with the help of  Jim Hannon, (center) Martin Defilippo (second from left) and Mike Feeny (left). All past participants of at least one of my walling workshops.

As you can see, it will stand the test of time.

Our next  Stonewell Farm walling workshop is the weekend of April 27th and 28th 2019

Before we get to working with the stone, safety is discussed. Footwear, eye protection, correct lifting techniques, etc.

Followed by an explanation of the various tools available and how to use them correctly and safely.

Once we get to the hands on stage, within minutes, complete strangers are discussing the merits of various stones and cooperating like old friends. 

Saturday evening, as with every workshop, is spent discussing the days progress and relaxing with beer, wine and pizza.

Made in our outdoor wood fired oven

One would think that flat square stone would be easy to wall with, but while it is angular, it is not regular like bricks,

and even the slightest deviation in height, makes it difficult for C to contact both A and B.

Whereas with the rounded corners of fieldstone, C makes good contact with A and B, even though A is slightly higher than B and E makes good contact with both C and D, even though D is substantially higher.

In my opinion, the learning curve with angular stone is steeper than with fieldstone, but once learnt, will allow you to wall with most types of stone.

Open House

The Parmelee Farm Sugar House is holding an open day.

Sunday January 20th 12pm

A New Parmelee Farm Wall

We are all set for this weekend's walling workshop. We will be building a low wall to compliment the latest addition to Parmelee Farm.

The Sugar Shack

The original workshop wall from the fall of 2009, built by a group of enthusiastic novices is still standing proud.

Now covered with lichen which gives an appearance of aged permanence.

 The Spring 2010 wall had a Lunkie which sadly was dismantled to make way for the underground electricity lines,

and a stile which is still present. Both walls, with a little expected settling are still like new.

Perhaps this Killingworth wall's longevity is due to the vertical capstones. 

More likely due to the instructors, four of the top ten Dry Stone experts in the country.

From L to R

 Chuck Eblacker http://www.eblackerstone.com/

Dan Snow https://www.dansnowstoneworks.com/

Brian Fairfield http://www.mainestonework.com/

Andrew Pighills http://www.englishgardensandlandscaping.com/

Parmelee Walling Workshop

This weekend I was joined by my good friends and colleagues Dan Snow, Chuck Eblacker and Brian Fairfield to teach a walling workshop at the Parmelee Farm here in Killingworth, CT. It was great to have the opportunity to spend some time with them, scattered around the northeast as we are, it's a rare and much looked forward to occasion to enjoy one another's company. (It gives me an idea for a book, maybe I'll write one and call it "In The Company of Stonemasons"). It was a fine workshop; a lot of enthusiasm and hard work produced results that few of us expected to achieve in such a short time. Dan has a remarkable manner of caring and inquiring that always seems to draw people in, even if they may be nervous about their skill level, and what he says is pure gold. Chuck puts people at ease and gets their undivided attention with his distinct style of teaching and demonstrating solutions to potential flaws. His tool demonstration was valuable and much appreciated. Brian's knowledge and skill tends to be camouflaged by his energy, enthusiasm and accessibility; qualities that make a big contribution to the workshop's success. The participants came from all over New England and were genuinely excited about learning the craft of dry stone walling, making it a pleasure to share with them the knowledge and skills that I've accumulated over the years.
We were able to incorporate two distinct traditional farm features into the work; a 'lunkie' and a 'stile', both of which serve to control livestock but in different ways. The 'lunkie' permits sheep to pass from one pasture to the next, and the 'stile' keeps-em in, while permitting a farmer and his dog to pass from one pasture to the next. Photos of the results of the workshop can be seen on Flickr by doing a search for Parmelee Farm Drystone Walling.
Workshop
Warm thanks to Dan, Chuck and Brian for all their help and congratulations to all the participants who achieved so much.