New England Stone Walls: Art and Function

Once-common land management tools for grazing animals, growing vegetables, or marking property, New England stone walls have evolved into masterful pieces of art. In this visually captivating presentation, Vermont stone craftsperson Brian Post of Standing Stone LLC will share the fundamentals of stone wall construction and explore the various aesthetic adaptations that contribute to artful elements in any landscape at any scale. Focusing primarily on dry stack walls, he’ll discuss loose farm walls, retainer walls, double-sided dimensional walls, walls for climbing or sitting, and how to become trained in the craft. New England has stone in abundance, a timeless and integral part of almost any garden or landscape setting. This discussion will inspire new ideas of how it can work for you.

The Green Spotlight Series is produced in partnership with the Maine Landscape and Nursery Association. MELNA members can register using the member price and will receive one recertification credit when they attend the live Zoom session.

Brian Post, a licensed landscape architect, began building stone walls when he was a child, later turning that fun, problem-solving activity into a profession. One of eight people in the US certified as a Master Craftsman with the Dry Stone Walling Association of Great Britain (DSWA-GB), Brian has built walls throughout New England, in the UK and Canada, and as far west as New Mexico. He started Standing Stone, LLC in 2010, focusing on large and complex dry stonework projects. He is a certified stonewalling instructor and assessor with the DSWA-GB and former board director of the Stone Trust, a national non-profit in Vermont whose mission is preserving and advancing the art and craft of dry stonewalling.