STONES/TONES/BONES: Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 8, 2026

Worlds End School Launches Stones/Bones/Tones

A practical dry stone-walling course invites participants to reconnect with land and each other through the practice of ancient stone building and work song.

Esperance, NY - Human animals have been moving stones and expressing themselves with voice since the emergence on this planet. This April, Worlds End School is making a week of it. 

From April 27 - May 3, 2026, Worlds End School of Thought, Agriculture and Craft (WESTAC) will launch Stones/Bones/Tones, the first week-long immersive course of the season. Participants will learn the ancient craft of dry stone walling while reconnecting to the land and one another through voice. Located 30 miles west of Albany, Worlds End is a 107-acre regenerative farm and pedagogical project. 

Days will be spent harvesting stone from the farm’s old stonewalls and building a new freestanding wall around the kitchen garden under the guidance of stone mason Adam Fisher. Shay Nichols will help participants explore the voice as a tool of rhythm, breath, coordination and collective effort. And at the center of the week, Sarah Ryhanen, Director of WESTAC, will tend the giant cauldron, simmering bone broth from the farm’s deep freezer to fuel the work.  

Adam Fisher has been working with stone since 2002, building everything from garden patios to slab steps in and around Maryland through his masonry company, Pescatore. His work explores the margin between the natural and crafted world, with a particular focus on the character of the local landscape.

"Dry stone structures, when built properly, are the best choice for many applications," said Adam Fisher. "They move with the land, allow water to move through the landscape, and connect us to the elements. They'll never go out of style and will likely last many lifetimes."

Shay Nichols is a recording artist, therapeutic voice coach, and founder of the Wild and Sacred Voice School and Lullabies for the Earth project. For over two decades, she has helped people use sound to regulate the nervous system, expand creativity, and deepen connection. 

“Trust your voice and its wisdom. Your voice has a natural ability to calm you down, move energy, regulate your nervous system, and invite more wholeness and expansion,” said Shay Nichols. 

Tickets for Stones/Bones/Tones are available at https://www.worldsendschool.org/dry-stone-walling. 

About Worlds End School of Thought, Agriculture, and Craft (WESTAC)

Worlds End School of Thought, Agriculture, and Craft (WESTAC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Esperance, New York. Founded by Sarah Ryhanen, the school emerged from Saipua, the olive oil soap and floral company she co-founded with Susan Ryhanen. 

Learning at Worlds End happens through shared work, conversation, meals, and close attention to the land. There are no formal classrooms or fixed curriculum—what is taught and learned depends on who is present. Programming includes artist residencies, long-form courses, and the beloved Coyote Café, a pay-as-you-wish restaurant open to the public on the first Sunday of each month.

Learn more at worldsendschool.org or contact mail@worldsendschool.org.