diff --git a/mods/ebiometrees/api.lua b/mods/ebiometrees/api.lua
index 529e25b..6f73561 100644
--- a/mods/ebiometrees/api.lua
+++ b/mods/ebiometrees/api.lua
@@ -1,16 +1,22 @@
 ebiometrees.registered_trees = {}
 
-function ebiometrees.register_tree(name, data)
-  ebiometrees.registered_trees[name] = data
+function ebiometrees.register_tree(name, treespec)
+  ebiometrees.registered_trees[name] = treespec
   ebiometrees.register_subnodes(name)
 end
 
 function ebiometrees.register_subnodes(tree_name)
   local modname = tree_name:match("([^:]*):")
   local basename = tree_name:match(":([^:]+)")
-  local data = ebiometrees.registered_trees[tree_name]
-  ebiometrees.register_tree_sapling(modname, basename, data)
-  ebiometrees.register_tree_sprout(modname, basename, data)
-  ebiometrees.register_tree_leaves(modname, basename, data)
-  ebiometrees.register_tree_trunks(modname, basename, data)
+  local treespec = ebiometrees.registered_trees[tree_name]
+  ebiometrees.register_tree_sapling(modname, basename, treespec)
+  ebiometrees.register_tree_sprout(modname, basename, treespec)
+  ebiometrees.register_tree_leaves(modname, basename, treespec)
+  ebiometrees.register_tree_trunks(modname, basename, treespec)
 end
+
+function ebiometrees.get_tree_leaves(tree_name)
+  return tree_name.."_leaves"
+end
+
+
diff --git a/mods/ebiometrees/sapling.lua b/mods/ebiometrees/sapling.lua
index 07374d6..c46f518 100644
--- a/mods/ebiometrees/sapling.lua
+++ b/mods/ebiometrees/sapling.lua
@@ -17,10 +17,8 @@ function ebiometrees.where_to_grow_trunk_closure(grow_preferences, leaves_name)
       corner1 = pos:add({x=-1, y=-1, z=-1}):add(candidate_dir:multiply(2))
       corner2 = pos:add({x= 1, y= 1, z= 1}):add(candidate_dir:multiply(2))
       local spacious, _ = minetest.find_nodes_in_area(
-        corner1, corner2, "group:treetrunk" 
+        corner1, corner2, {"group:treetrunk", "group:dirt" }
       )
-      minetest.chat_send_all(dump2(spacious))
-      minetest.chat_send_all(#spacious)
       if node and node.name == leaves_name and #spacious == 0
       then
         return candidate
@@ -45,6 +43,7 @@ function ebiometrees.grow_trunk_closure(trunk_terminal_name, grow_preferences, l
       minetest.set_node(there, {name=trunk_terminal_name})
       local newmeta = minetest.get_meta(there)
       newmeta:set_int("ebiometrees:distance", meta:get_int("ebiometrees:distance")+1)
+      meta:set_int("ebiometrees:distance", meta:get_int("ebiometrees:distance")+1)
     end
   end
   return grow_trunk
@@ -63,11 +62,17 @@ function ebiometrees.grow_leaves_closure(leaves_name)
   return grow_leaves
 end
 
+function ebiometrees.tree_timer_lifecycle_closure(tree_name)
+  leaves_name = tree_name.."_leaves"
+  terminal_name = tree_name.."_trunk_growing_terminal"
+  nextstage = tree_name.."_trunk_normal_terminal"
+  grow_preferences = ebiometrees.registered_trees[tree_name]["growth_preferences"]
+  age_max = ebiometrees.registered_trees[tree_name]["age_max"]
+  grow_limit = ebiometrees.registered_trees[tree_name]["growth_limit"]
 
-function ebiometrees.tree_grower(leaves_name, grow_preferences, terminal_name, nextstage, age_max, grow_limit)
   local grow_trunk =  ebiometrees.grow_trunk_closure(terminal_name, grow_preferences, leaves_name, grow_limit)
   local grow_leaves = ebiometrees.grow_leaves_closure(leaves_name)
-  local function grow_tree(pos)
+  function tree_timer_lifecycle(pos)
     local meta = minetest.get_meta(pos)
     meta:set_int("ebiometrees:age", meta:get_int("ebiometrees:age")+1)
     grow_trunk(pos)
@@ -81,6 +86,6 @@ function ebiometrees.tree_grower(leaves_name, grow_preferences, terminal_name, n
     end
     return true
   end
-  return grow_tree
+  return tree_timer_lifecycle
 end
 
diff --git a/mods/ebiometrees/tree.lua b/mods/ebiometrees/tree.lua
index 4b3375f..14e0ce2 100644
--- a/mods/ebiometrees/tree.lua
+++ b/mods/ebiometrees/tree.lua
@@ -6,14 +6,24 @@ local function growth_timer(pos)
   meta:set_int("ebiometrees:age", 0)
 end
 
-function ebiometrees.register_tree_leaves(modname, basename, data)
+local function setup_trunk_closure(treespec)
+  local function setup_trunk(pos)
+    minetest.get_node_timer(pos):start(3)
+    local meta = minetest.get_meta(pos)
+    meta:mark_as_private("ebiometrees:age")
+    meta:mark_as_private("ebiometrees:life")
+    meta:set_int("ebiometrees:age", 0)
+  end
+end
+
+function ebiometrees.register_tree_leaves(modname, basename, treespec)
   local S = minetest.get_translator(modname)
-  local leaves_groups = table.copy(data.groups)
+  local leaves_groups = table.copy(treespec.groups)
   leaves_groups.leaves = 1
   leaves_groups.leafdecay = 3
   leaves_groups.snappy = 3
   minetest.register_node(modname..":"..basename.."_leaves", {
-    description = S(data.description.." leaves"),
+    description = S(treespec.description.." leaves"),
     drawtype = "allfaces_optional",
     waving = 1,
     tiles = { modname.."_"..basename.."_leaves.png" },
@@ -24,15 +34,15 @@ function ebiometrees.register_tree_leaves(modname, basename, data)
   })
 end
 
-function ebiometrees.register_tree_sapling(modname, basename, data)
+function ebiometrees.register_tree_sapling(modname, basename, treespec)
   -- register saplings
   local S = minetest.get_translator(modname)
-  local sapling_groups = table.copy(data.groups)
+  local sapling_groups = table.copy(treespec.groups)
   sapling_groups.sapling = 1
   sapling_groups.snappy = 2
   sapling_groups.dig_immediate = 3
   minetest.register_node(modname..":"..basename.."_sapling", {
-    description = S(data.description.." sapling"),
+    description = S(treespec.description.." sapling"),
     drawtype = "plantlike",
     tiles = { modname.."_"..basename.."_sapling.png"},
     paramtype = "light",
@@ -46,14 +56,14 @@ function ebiometrees.register_tree_sapling(modname, basename, data)
   })
 end
 
-function ebiometrees.register_tree_sprout(modname, basename, data)
+function ebiometrees.register_tree_sprout(modname, basename, treespec)
   -- register tree leaves
   local S = minetest.get_translator(modname)
-  local sprout_groups = table.copy(data.groups)
+  local sprout_groups = table.copy(treespec.groups)
   sprout_groups.sapling = 1
   sprout_groups.snappy = 2
   minetest.register_node(modname..":"..basename.."_sprout", {
-    description = S(data.description.." sprout"),
+    description = S(treespec.description.." sprout"),
     drawtype = "plantlike",
     visual_scale = 1.4,
     tiles = { modname.."_"..basename.."_sprout.png" },
@@ -68,10 +78,10 @@ function ebiometrees.register_tree_sprout(modname, basename, data)
   })
 end
 
-function ebiometrees.register_tree_trunks(modname, basename, data)
+function ebiometrees.register_tree_trunks(modname, basename, treespec)
   local S = minetest.get_translator(modname)
   -- registers corresponding trunk nodes
-  local trunk_groups = table.copy(data.groups)
+  local trunk_groups = table.copy(treespec.groups)
   trunk_groups.choppy = 2 -- TODO: customizations
   trunk_groups.treetrunk = 1
   local trunk_types = {"growing", "normal"}
@@ -140,7 +150,7 @@ function ebiometrees.register_tree_trunks(modname, basename, data)
     for _, trunk_subtype in ipairs(trunk_subtypes)
     do
       local nodespec = {
-          description = S(data.description.." "..trunk_type.." "..trunk_subtype),
+          description = S(treespec.description.." "..trunk_type.." "..trunk_subtype),
           groups = trunk_groups,
           tiles = subtype_tiles[trunk_subtype],
           paramtype2 = "facedir",
@@ -150,22 +160,7 @@ function ebiometrees.register_tree_trunks(modname, basename, data)
       }
       if trunk_type == "growing"
         then
-          nodespec.on_timer = ebiometrees.tree_grower(
-            modname..":"..basename.."_leaves",
-            {
-              {ebiometrees.directions.up},
-              {
-                ebiometrees.directions.north,
-                ebiometrees.directions.east,
-                ebiometrees.directions.south,
-                ebiometrees.directions.west
-              }
-            },
-            modname..":"..basename.."_trunk_growing_terminal",
-            modname..":"..basename.."_trunk_normal_"..trunk_subtype,
-            20,
-            10
-          )
+          nodespec.on_timer = ebiometrees.tree_timer_lifecycle_closure(modname..":"..basename)
       end
       minetest.register_node(
         modname..":"..basename.."_trunk_"..trunk_type.."_"..trunk_subtype,
diff --git a/mods/electric_biomes/biomes/grasslands.lua b/mods/electric_biomes/biomes/grasslands.lua
index c28de5d..09420f7 100644
--- a/mods/electric_biomes/biomes/grasslands.lua
+++ b/mods/electric_biomes/biomes/grasslands.lua
@@ -12,7 +12,19 @@ minetest.register_biome({
 })
 ebiometrees.register_tree("electric_biomes:oak",{
   description = "Oak",
-  groups = {flammable = 2}
+  groups = {flammable = 2},
+  life = 30,
+  growth_preferences = {
+    {ebiometrees.directions.up},
+    {
+      ebiometrees.directions.north,
+      ebiometrees.directions.east,
+      ebiometrees.directions.south,
+      ebiometrees.directions.west
+    }
+  },
+  growth_limit = 10,
+  age_max = 20,
 })
 minetest.register_node("electric_biomes:grass", {
   description = S("Grass"),