How an Eagle High School teacher is transforming reclaimed Idaho wood into handcrafted pieces through Spalted Woodworks
In a world increasingly filled with mass production and endless scrolling, Eagle, Idaho teacher Austin Rogerson is carving out something slower, more intentional and deeply personal.
By day, Rogerson is a business teacher at Eagle High School, where he pours his energy into mentoring high school students. By night — and in the quiet moments in between — he transforms fallen and forgotten wood into handcrafted kitchen pieces through his growing Eagle-based business, Spalted Woodworks.
What began with a simple moment in Idaho’s Sawtooth Mountains has evolved into a meaningful creative outlet, with Rogerson’s handcrafted pieces now making their way into homes across the country.
From the Sawtooths to Spalted Woodworks
“I was on a backpacking trip and carving a piece of wood with my pocket knife,” Rogerson said. “I thought, ‘How cool would it be if I carved this into a spoon?’”
That single spoon sparked a passion.
Back home, Rogerson purchased the proper carving tools and began experimenting more seriously. Over time, woodworking became less about the finished product and more about the peace he found in the process.
“It’s where my brain shuts off,” he explained. “I’m not thinking about anything else. It’s therapeutic.”
Today, Rogerson handcrafts spoons, spatulas, salad servers, bowls, charcuterie boards, cutting boards and even intricate wooden ice cream scoops from his workshop in Eagle. Each item is crafted by hand, often taking anywhere from one to two hours to complete, depending on the complexity of the piece.
His bestselling item? Spatulas.
But what makes Spalted Woodworks especially unique isn’t just the craftsmanship. It’s the story behind the wood itself.
Giving Idaho Wood a Second Life
Unlike many woodworkers, Rogerson doesn’t source most of his materials from traditional lumber yards or home improvement stores. Nearly every piece of wood he uses is reclaimed, repurposed or rescued from being discarded.
“The wood I’m currently working with came from a tree in Emmett that had to be cut down,” he said. “I love taking something that would have ended up in a landfill and turning it into something beautiful that people use every day.”
Maple is one of his favorite woods to work with, largely because of its abundance throughout the Treasure Valley. Rogerson intentionally keeps his sourcing close to home, believing the connection to the community matters just as much as the craftsmanship.
Every Spalted Woodworks order includes a handwritten note sharing where the wood originated.
“I don’t want to say I bought this at a lumber store,” Rogerson said. “I love being able to tell someone this tree came from a specific corner in Idaho. It gives the piece a story.”
That storytelling element has resonated with customers well beyond the Treasure Valley. In the past year alone, Rogerson has sold more than 120 handcrafted pieces online through Etsy and his website, with nearly all of them shipping outside Idaho.
Handcrafted in Eagle, Idaho
Locally, Rogerson’s handcrafted goods can be found at The Sundry, where owner Mel recognized the beauty and authenticity of his work early on. Rogerson is also hopeful Spalted Woodworks will find a home at Iron & Sage, the new kitchen store in downtown Eagle.
For Rogerson, seeing something made inside his Eagle garage end up in someone’s kitchen hundreds or even thousands of miles away is part of what makes the journey so rewarding.
Yet despite the growth of Spalted Woodworks, Rogerson has no plans to leave the classroom behind.
“Teaching is absolutely my calling,” he said. “I know God put me on this earth to teach high school kids. I love these students.”
A Family of Makers
That passion for creativity and education extends into Rogerson’s home life as well.
Rogerson and his wife, Krista, both teach at Eagle High School, where she has worked for more than a decade as an art teacher. Together, the couple has built a life centered around making, creating and encouraging others to do the same.
“We’re makers,” Rogerson said with a smile. “That’s just who we are.”
The couple’s move to Eagle three years ago was intentional. After years of long commutes from the Kuna area, an opportunity arose for Austin to transfer from Owyhee High School to Eagle High School while maintaining the same teaching role.
The move allowed the family to plant roots in the Eagle community they had grown to love.
Finding Purpose in the Process
Rogerson’s workshop occupies the third bay of the family’s garage — a space filled with wood shavings, handmade tools and the quiet rhythm of craftsmanship.
For Rogerson, woodworking was never about building a massive company or chasing the latest trend.
It’s about slowing down.
It’s about creating something meaningful.
And it’s about honoring the history contained inside a piece of wood that might otherwise have been forgotten.
In a fast-paced world, that kind of intention is becoming increasingly rare.
Learn more about Spalted Woodworks: spaltedwoodworks.com
Instagram: @spaltedwoodworks
