When I went shopping for my first slab I also found 2 small pieces of spalted alder–which for the record–spalting is so cool! Spalting is any form of wood coloration caused by fungi. Although primarily found in dead trees, spalting can also occur in living trees under stress. Although spalting can cause weight loss and strength loss in the wood, the unique coloration and patterns of spalted wood are sought after by woodworkers–myself included!
Zone lines–my favorite spalting is dark dotting, winding lines and thin streaks of red, brown and black. This type of spalting does not occur due to any specific type of fungus, but is instead an interaction zone in which different fungi have erected barriers to protect their resources. Now that I’ve bored you with random wood facts…
I’ve also been making some cheese boards out of more exotic woods, but also some native wood such as walnut. The cheese boards are fun quick projects that make great gifts and are easy to ship. They come in all different shapes and sizes, some with a more live edge and others with straight edges.
Nature's Knotty Work 