CLASSES
Dry Stone Walling: Stones / Bones / Tones
A week of building, broth and vocalization
A week long immersion in human-scale building and the right-here-now-ness of the voice.
Come out of hibernation this spring and join master stone worker Adam Fisher and vocalist Shay Nichols for six days of learning the ancient craft of dry stone walling and connecting to the land and each other with the sound of our voices.
Stones
We will harvest stone from the adjacent old farm stonewalls and begin constructing a free standing dry stone wall around the kitchen garden. Fundamental lessons of site planning, stone sorting, foundation building, battering, hearting, tie stones, corner precision, and creating wall breaks will all be discussed and practiced.
Bones
At the center of the week, shepherd and cook Sarah Ryhanen will tend the giant outdoor cauldron, simmering deeply nourishing broth from the bones stored in the farm’s deep freezer. Meals will be simple, collaborative and rewarding. Making broth, cooking dried beans and basic soup building skills will be shared.
Tones
With a nod to the deep history of work song, we will explore the voice as a tool of rhythm, breath, coordination, and collective effort — activating one of the animal body’s primary expressive instruments while we work. No need to have any singing experience. In fact, if this part scares you then this is definitely an experience you should consider!
Adam Fisher
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Instructor website
Logistics
Worlds End Farm is located in Esperance, NY, 30 miles west of Albany. Transportation to and from the farm must be arranged by you personally.
Each student has a private room with a double or queen bed (unless camping or lodging offsite). Shared bathrooms. Excellent cell phone service for most networks and wifi.
Students arrive in the afternoon on Mondays, are settled in and are then asked to be at dinner at 7:30pm. Subsequent meals can be taken in solitude though we typically eat together in the large breezeway of the barn. Students leave on Sundays by 4pm and are welcome to end the week with lunch at coyotecafe, the farm’s monthly drop-in cafe.
This class will take place rain or shine Monday, April 27- Sunday May 3, 2026
Cost
With onsite lodging: $1,850
Without onsite lodging: $1,400
Includes all meals. Students opting out of lodging are welcome to camp with their own supplies in the lower field or to book their own lodging in the area.