Chicken coops in the suburbs and flourishing vegetable gardens in the cities are becoming increasingly common sights to see.  This can be partially credited to Spike Carlsen, a Stillwater author of four woodworking books.

Carlsen’s newest book, The Backyard Homestead Book of Building Projects, was released on March 27 at the Stillwater Public Library.  The book contains 76 different projects for suburbanites to do at home, ranging from constructing housing for animals to making nice patio furniture.

Before Carlsen first wrote down his project ideas, he gained first-hand experience.

“I have been working with wood for over 30 years now,” said Carlsen.

Carlsen’s writing career has also always revolved around woodworking.

“I was an editor of the Family Handyman magazine, where I wrote hundreds of articles on home improvement and woodworking,” said Carlsen.  “Prior to that, though, I was a carpenter for 15 years and even ran my own construction and remodeling business.”

In his writing, Carlsen advocates self-sufficient families in suburban settings.

“In the introduction of the book,” said Carlsen, “the Johnsons, who are some good friends of mine, are the main focus.  See, awhile back, I went and saw their chicken coop, and it helped to inspire my chicken coop design that I put in the book.  It’s all about being self-sufficient in a suburban area.  The Johnsons live in downtown Stillwater, so their coop is a good example.”

Carlsen’s personality can be seen through his family life.

“Spike had three kids from his first marriage,” said Zanny Johnson, one of the Johnsons who are mentioned in the introduction of Carlsen’s new book, “and Kat, his current wife, had two, and if you ask them how many kids they have, they say ‘five’ without even blinking.  They truly are just a blended family, and it really shows Spike’s loving personality.”

Carlsen is not the kind of person one just forgets after meeting him.

“Spike is one of my very favorite people.  He is amazingly talented,” said Johnson.  “I’ve actually known Spike for a long time now.  About 20 years ago, when I was a youth director at St. Andrew’s, I had this really soft-spoken, sweet and freckle-faced girl in my group, Maggie Carlsen.  I still remember, even way back then, that when Maggie’s dad, Spike, came in to sign her up for confirmation, he left an impression on me, because he’s just so sweet-spirited.”

Carlsen not only leaves an impression on his community at home, but on his community in Tanzania, when he goes on the Tanzania Mission Trip, with Trinity Lutheran Church (TLC).

“I remember on one trip to Tanzania,” said Tom Thiets, missions director at TLC. “On a day off, Spike, one other person, and I were on a little guided tour along some trails.  All of a sudden, we turned a corner, and there were these elephants just standing there in a group.  Next thing you know, the tour guide started picking up rocks, throwing them and yelling at the elephants.  Spike and I looked at each other wondering if this guy was out of his mind.  But then the elephants started to groan and move away from the trail.  The tour guide told us that he was going to go on ahead and make sure it was okay to keep going, so he left.  About a minute later, he came running back toward us, yelling in broken English, ‘Run!  Elephants!’  Spike and I ran for our lives from those things and eventually we made it back to our hut we were staying at.”

Kat and Spike Carlsen are very loved by the communities they reach out to.

“They are just the finest people I know,” said Johnson.  “Truly, truly, truly hardworking, humble, generous, loving and creative.”

Surely, we can all enjoy reading Carlsen’s new book that much more, knowing how valued and kind of a person he is, behind the keyboard.