Autumn 2008
Working Landscape: Rock Solid
Two of the world's best stone-wall builders are reviving the trade in Vermont
By Sky Barsch
Photographed by Stefan Hard
Once an essential skill necessary
for clearing farm fields, marking boundaries and containing livestock, the trade of dry stone-wall building was nearly lost with the invention of barbed wire, plastic and wooden fences. Now a renewed interest in connecting with the land, environmentally sound building practices and an appreciation for history is helping resurrect the age-old trade.
With no mortar or grout for stabilization, dry stone walls rely heavily on the engineering sense and creativity of the builder. Dan Snow of Dummerston and Michael Weitzner of West Brattleboro have attained the Master Craftsman certificate from the Dry Stone Walling Association of Great Britain, the most advanced certification in the trade. Achieving the rank involves rigorous testing of building mechanics (columns, steps and arches) and the creation of a 17-foot-long, 3-foot-high wall within seven hours, for instance. Only 50 other registered builders worldwide have achieved that status.
"The challenge doesn't end because I've gained some proficiency," says Snow, who earned the Master certificate in 2001. "The walls are very limiting in what can be done with them because it's a matter of weight and friction holding things together. ... You can't just make any shape you want. But within the limitations, there are a lot of interesting things that can be done."
As Master Craftsman dry stone-wall builders, Snow and Weitzner train and test a web of builders throughout the Northeast. The two test roughly eight would-be stone-wall builders from Vermont each year, and certify about a half-dozen.
The testing is important, says Jared Flynn, another Dummerston wall builder, because it gives consumers some trust in their builders.
"Some of our work is repairing other people's work, unfortunately," says Flynn, who was tested by Snow and Weitzner. "I did eight years of walling that people loved, and I thought was great, until I actually learned how to wall through the association."
In their renaissance, the driving force behind most dry stone walls has changed from function to aesthetics, but the precise engineering necessary to build a structurally sound, lasting wall remains the same. Charley MacMartin, another builder tested by Snow and Weitzner, points to a pile of stones to help explain. He's looking for the next stone for his wall, one that will sit on top of several layers of other stones. It cannot match the same vertical line as the one below it, he says, or it will create a seam and weaken the wall. The rock cannot overhang the space next to it too far — otherwise he is left to back into the negative space, making the next stone selection even tougher. The rock can't be too big, or the wall will be top-heavy; too small, and another weak point will be created.
After about 10 minutes, MacMartin finally uncovers the perfect stone. To the untrained observer, it looks pretty much the same as the rest in the pile. "Stones can solve problems, stones can create problems," he says. "It's like chess. What kind of problem are you willing to solve?"
Hands on
Charley MacMartin offers hands-on workshops through his business Queen City Soil & Stone. The one-day workshops focus on basic techniques for creating dry-laid garden retaining walls and freestanding walls. For more information or to register, contact Charley MacMartin at (802) 318-2411.
