In article .com, " wrote:
On Feb 15, 2:54 pm, Frank Boettcher wrote:

Possibly mold, but the reason that wood is the preferred material for
food cutting boards (rather than the various plastics that have shown
up) is that bacteria doesn't like it. It is not a fertile material
for the propogation of bacteria or viruses, so it seems unlikely that
is the source of the problem.

Well, I guess you haven't been in an leaky shower for a while. Or
seen an old woodpile, or been behind he old timer's house that has
wood he was saving for "that project" for many years. I have loaded
wood into dumpsters that was so decayed that it was swept up and
shoveled into a wheel barrow first.

If bacteria and fungii didn't break down wood, why does it decay?

He didn't say "bacteria and fungi," he said "bacteria and viruses."

What causes it to rot?

Fungi.

Why do I have a gold colored mold on one side
and white/black mold/fungus on the other side of a large log I have
been too lazy to split for a few years?

Because damp wood readily supports the growth of fungi.

Wood will easily sustain mold and fungus. Properly maintained wood
will not. Some woods will rot and attract fungus more than others
(this is why spalted oak is rare compared to spalted maple).

So I think, personally, that while "old wood" could mean a lot of
things to a lot of different people, if it has been improperly stored
or cared for it could easily have mold and fungus growing on it.

Certainly it could. But the discussion concerned bacteria and viruses.

--
Regards,
Doug Miller (alphageek at milmac dot com)

It's time to throw all their damned tea in the harbor again.