diff --git a/docs/scarpet/Full.md b/docs/scarpet/Full.md
index 4e0ea027..97fccb91 100644
--- a/docs/scarpet/Full.md
+++ b/docs/scarpet/Full.md
@@ -1646,19 +1646,26 @@ __on_chunk_generated(x, z) -> (
 
 ### `place_item(item, pos, facing?, sneak?)`
 
-Places a given item in the world like it was placed by a player. Item names are default minecraft item name, 
+Uses a given item in the world like it was used by a player. Item names are default minecraft item name, 
 less the minecraft prefix. Default facing is 'up', but there are other options: 'down', 'north', 'east', 'south', 
 'west', but also there are other secondary directions important for placement of blocks like stairs, doors, etc. 
 Try experiment with options like 'north-up' which is placed facing north with cursor pointing to the upper part of the 
 block, or 'up-north', which means a block placed facing up (player looking down) and placed smidge away of the block 
 center towards north. Optional sneak is a boolean indicating if a player would be sneaking while placing the 
-block - this option only affects placement of chests and scaffolding at the moment. Returns true if placement was 
+block - this option only affects placement of chests and scaffolding at the moment. 
+
+Works with items that have the right-click effect on the block placed, `'like bone_meal`` on grass or axes on logs,
+but doesn't open chests / containers, so have no effect on interactive blocks, like TNT, comparators, etc.
+
+Returns true if placement/use was 
 successful, false otherwise.
 
 <pre>
 place_item('stone',x,y,z) // places a stone block on x,y,z block
 place_item('piston,x,y,z,'down') // places a piston facing down
 place_item('carrot',x,y,z) // attempts to plant a carrot plant. Returns true if could place carrots at that position.
+place_item('bone_meal',x,y,z) // attempts to bonemeal the ground.
+place_item('wooden_axe',x,y,z) // attempts to strip the log.
 </pre>
 
 ### `set_poi(pos, type, occupancy?)`
diff --git a/docs/scarpet/api/BlocksAndWorldAccess.md b/docs/scarpet/api/BlocksAndWorldAccess.md
index e6ae9e39..b9a67339 100644
--- a/docs/scarpet/api/BlocksAndWorldAccess.md
+++ b/docs/scarpet/api/BlocksAndWorldAccess.md
@@ -102,19 +102,26 @@ __on_chunk_generated(x, z) -> (
 
 ### `place_item(item, pos, facing?, sneak?)`
 
-Places a given item in the world like it was placed by a player. Item names are default minecraft item name, 
+Uses a given item in the world like it was used by a player. Item names are default minecraft item name, 
 less the minecraft prefix. Default facing is 'up', but there are other options: 'down', 'north', 'east', 'south', 
 'west', but also there are other secondary directions important for placement of blocks like stairs, doors, etc. 
 Try experiment with options like 'north-up' which is placed facing north with cursor pointing to the upper part of the 
 block, or 'up-north', which means a block placed facing up (player looking down) and placed smidge away of the block 
 center towards north. Optional sneak is a boolean indicating if a player would be sneaking while placing the 
-block - this option only affects placement of chests and scaffolding at the moment. Returns true if placement was 
+block - this option only affects placement of chests and scaffolding at the moment. 
+
+Works with items that have the right-click effect on the block placed, `'like bone_meal`` on grass or axes on logs,
+but doesn't open chests / containers, so have no effect on interactive blocks, like TNT, comparators, etc.
+
+Returns true if placement/use was 
 successful, false otherwise.
 
 <pre>
 place_item('stone',x,y,z) // places a stone block on x,y,z block
 place_item('piston,x,y,z,'down') // places a piston facing down
 place_item('carrot',x,y,z) // attempts to plant a carrot plant. Returns true if could place carrots at that position.
+place_item('bone_meal',x,y,z) // attempts to bonemeal the ground.
+place_item('wooden_axe',x,y,z) // attempts to strip the log.
 </pre>
 
 ### `set_poi(pos, type, occupancy?)`
diff --git a/src/main/java/carpet/script/CarpetExpression.java b/src/main/java/carpet/script/CarpetExpression.java
index 0a8cf83b..466f104a 100644
--- a/src/main/java/carpet/script/CarpetExpression.java
+++ b/src/main/java/carpet/script/CarpetExpression.java
@@ -98,6 +98,7 @@ import net.minecraft.state.property.Property;
 import net.minecraft.structure.StructurePiece;
 import net.minecraft.structure.StructureStart;
 import net.minecraft.text.LiteralText;
+import net.minecraft.util.ActionResult;
 import net.minecraft.util.Clearable;
 import net.minecraft.util.Identifier;
 import net.minecraft.util.InvalidIdentifierException;
@@ -1009,6 +1010,7 @@ public class CarpetExpression
             return success ? LazyValue.TRUE : LazyValue.FALSE;
         });
 
+        // TODO rename to use_item
         this.expr.addLazyFunction("place_item", -1, (c, t, lv) ->
         {
             if (lv.size()<2)
@@ -1024,18 +1026,28 @@ public class CarpetExpression
             boolean sneakPlace = false;
             if (lv.size() > locator.offset+1)
                 sneakPlace = lv.get(locator.offset+1).evalValue(c).getBoolean();
-            if (stackArg.getItem() instanceof BlockItem)
+
+            BlockValue.PlacementContext ctx;
+            try
             {
+                ctx = BlockValue.PlacementContext.from(cc.s.getWorld(), where, facing, sneakPlace, stackArg.createStack(1, false));
+            }
+            catch (CommandSyntaxException e)
+            {
+                throw new InternalExpressionException(e.getMessage());
+            }
+
+            if (!(stackArg.getItem() instanceof BlockItem))
+            {
+                ActionResult useResult = ctx.getStack().useOnBlock(ctx);
+                if (useResult == ActionResult.CONSUME || useResult == ActionResult.SUCCESS)
+                {
+                    return LazyValue.TRUE;
+                }
+            }
+            else
+            { // not sure we need special case for block items, since useOnBlock can do that as well
                 BlockItem blockItem = (BlockItem) stackArg.getItem();
-                BlockValue.PlacementContext ctx;
-                try
-                {
-                    ctx = BlockValue.PlacementContext.from(cc.s.getWorld(), where, facing, sneakPlace, stackArg.createStack(1, false));
-                }
-                catch (CommandSyntaxException e)
-                {
-                    throw new InternalExpressionException(e.getMessage());
-                }
                 if (!ctx.canPlace())
                     return (_c, _t) -> Value.FALSE;
                 BlockState placementState = blockItem.getBlock().getPlacementState(ctx);
@@ -1165,7 +1177,8 @@ public class CarpetExpression
                     String reqString = requested.getString();
                     String structureName = FeatureGenerator.featureToStructure.get(reqString);
                     if (structureName == null) throw new InternalExpressionException("Unknown structure: " + reqString);
-                    structure = Feature.STRUCTURES.get(structureName);
+                    structure = Feature.STRUCTURES.get(structureName.toLowerCase(Locale.ROOT));
+                    if (structure == null) throw new InternalExpressionException("Unsupported structure: " + structureName);
                 }
                 if (lv.size() > locator.offset+1)
                 {