Hello,


I am a dry stone mason and artist. My beloved helps with the stone work sometimes, does gardening and has her own artistic works, we collaborate on much in life. We've both been applying more and more permaculture principles to our life, over the years--and really wanting to truly live the life for quite awhile now. How to get from here to there? Save up enough money, buy land, invite friends, build strawbale/log/cob/stone houses, create gardens and do all of that. We're both natural builders and artists, so we have a lot of ideas along these line, a lot of plans drawn up....it can be tricky though--had enough money, a year or so ago, but then that fell through and now we're broke again and looking at other options.

For a living, I build landscapes using natural materials, and environmental art installations/dry stone sculptures as well. Currently, I'm contemplating just finding permaculture communities that maybe wouldn't mind having some access to our skills, and could host us for 6 months or so. For us, that would be ideal, to live at different communities, for 6 months at a time, move twice a year. I have toyed around a bit with cob and similar building methods, read a few books, and would love to wed my natural outdoor construction styles with earth building. To this end, I'm just about to fill out the form at wwoof and see if we can find the sort of situation we are looking for there.

Our long term goal would look more like this: get land and create a public park/retreat center. Workers could stay at lodges they help build, there would be extensive gardens and of course it would also be a kind of sculpture park, a place to have many examples of my work all in one place, and room for others to create their own stuff. Aside from living off the land/bartering and making ends by hosting workshops and retreats and weddings even (I plan on building the sort of place where people would love to get married at) another part of the financial model would also be my already existing business. In addition to building stuff at our own location, we'd take on contracting gigs every once in awhile and gets paid.

So that's my life story, in three tight paragraphs. Hi everyone!

Hi, Devin and welcome to permies.....it's good to have you here!

your work sounds wonderful and challenging...I know you will find many like minded folks here and many from your area.

Howdy Devin, welcome to permies!
Be sure to check out our woofers forum too!

Hey Devin, welcome to Permies!!!

Ever want to talk stone, stone tools, or carving stone give me a shout. Dan Snow is an acquaintance, and the owner of Trow and Holden (and crew) are friends. Love the photos of your work! Reminds me of Goldsworthy work, my mom, and Dan's stuff. Great job. If you haven't worked with lime mortars you should get into it...it will add a new dimension to your craft and artistry.

Warm Regards,

A fellow ston geek,

j

Thanks Judith, Thanks Miles!


Jay C. Hello I began dabbling with lime mortars a few years back, but still have not gotten deep into it--but I shall. One of the things distracting me from lime was cob....and of course cob will eventually lead me back to lime. I certainly will have things to ask a guy who knows stone, timber and earth building.

Dan Snow was an influence on my work--and of course my hammers and tools come from t&h....man, where I live most people have never even heard of dry stone....

Always a pleasure to meet another stone geek!

Welcome, Devin.

I'm sure I'll stumble onto the pics of your work soon. Always so much to see and think about on here.

Hey Devine,

Glad to here you are using T&H. Great old tool company...as you know. My day to day 3lb sledge for stone and timber framing is over 120 years old original T&H...ever need to talk tools or want something "special" from them...drop me a note!

Warm Regards,

j

Nice. My next tool will probably be a scutch comb. T&H does't carry them, to my knowledge....like a rock pick aka brick hammer, but with a carbide toothed bit for the chisel end. I bet that'd be rather useful.

Brother...T&H only shows about...maybe...1/2 of what they sell, and/or make. Also, they will make you anything you want. I just had a really nice scotch comb style (~120 years old) "retipped" in carbid by them last year...cost about $60. They will do just about anything you ask of them...and if they can't they will tell you why its not a good idea. You will love yours I am sure. Must be careful with them as the carbide can stamp off (like mine has) if you are too heavy handed...no worries...they just stick in back on...

Cheers,

j

That is very good to know--you just made t&h a sale! I thought I was going to have to order from abroad....