diff --git a/mods/default/functions.lua b/mods/default/functions.lua
index 9d164b4b..7e0e8d04 100644
--- a/mods/default/functions.lua
+++ b/mods/default/functions.lua
@@ -835,3 +835,17 @@ function default.can_interact_with_node(player, pos)
 
 	return false
 end
+
+function default.do_with_area(p1, p2, func)
+	local vm = VoxelManip()
+	local minp, maxp = vm:read_from_map(p1, p2)
+	local va = VoxelArea:new({MinEdge = minp, MaxEdge = maxp})
+	local data = vm:get_data()
+	func(va, data)
+	vm:set_data(data)
+	vm:write_to_map()
+	vm:update_liquids()
+	if vm.close ~= nil then
+		vm:close()
+	end
+end
diff --git a/mods/default/trees.lua b/mods/default/trees.lua
index 5445a6fb..46e573c5 100644
--- a/mods/default/trees.lua
+++ b/mods/default/trees.lua
@@ -115,26 +115,13 @@ function default.grow_tree(pos, is_apple_tree, bad)
 		error("Deprecated use of default.grow_tree")
 	end
 
-	local x, y, z = pos.x, pos.y, pos.z
 	local height = random(4, 5)
 	local c_tree = minetest.get_content_id("default:tree")
 	local c_leaves = minetest.get_content_id("default:leaves")
 
-	local vm = minetest.get_voxel_manip()
-	local minp, maxp = vm:read_from_map(
-		{x = x - 2, y = y, z = z - 2},
-		{x = x + 2, y = y + height + 1, z = z + 2}
-	)
-	local a = VoxelArea:new({MinEdge = minp, MaxEdge = maxp})
-	local data = vm:get_data()
-
-	add_trunk_and_leaves(data, a, pos, c_tree, c_leaves, height, 2, 8, is_apple_tree)
-
-	vm:set_data(data)
-	vm:write_to_map()
-	if vm.close ~= nil then
-		vm:close()
-	end
+	default.do_with_area(pos:offset(-2, 0, -2), pos:offset(2, height + 1, 2), function(a, data)
+		add_trunk_and_leaves(data, a, pos, c_tree, c_leaves, height, 2, 8, is_apple_tree)
+	end)
 end
 
 -- Jungle tree
@@ -156,39 +143,27 @@ function default.grow_jungle_tree(pos, bad)
 	local c_jungletree = minetest.get_content_id("default:jungletree")
 	local c_jungleleaves = minetest.get_content_id("default:jungleleaves")
 
-	local vm = minetest.get_voxel_manip()
-	local minp, maxp = vm:read_from_map(
-		{x = x - 3, y = y - 1, z = z - 3},
-		{x = x + 3, y = y + height + 1, z = z + 3}
-	)
-	local a = VoxelArea:new({MinEdge = minp, MaxEdge = maxp})
-	local data = vm:get_data()
+	default.do_with_area(pos:offset(-3, -1, -3), pos:offset(3, height + 1, 3), function(a, data)
+		add_trunk_and_leaves(data, a, pos, c_jungletree, c_jungleleaves,
+			height, 3, 30, false)
 
-	add_trunk_and_leaves(data, a, pos, c_jungletree, c_jungleleaves,
-		height, 3, 30, false)
-
-	-- Roots
-	for z_dist = -1, 1 do
-		local vi_1 = a:index(x - 1, y - 1, z + z_dist)
-		local vi_2 = a:index(x - 1, y, z + z_dist)
-		for x_dist = -1, 1 do
-			if random(1, 3) >= 2 then
-				if data[vi_1] == c_air or data[vi_1] == c_ignore then
-					data[vi_1] = c_jungletree
-				elseif data[vi_2] == c_air or data[vi_2] == c_ignore then
-					data[vi_2] = c_jungletree
+		-- Roots
+		for z_dist = -1, 1 do
+			local vi_1 = a:index(x - 1, y - 1, z + z_dist)
+			local vi_2 = a:index(x - 1, y, z + z_dist)
+			for x_dist = -1, 1 do
+				if random(1, 3) >= 2 then
+					if data[vi_1] == c_air or data[vi_1] == c_ignore then
+						data[vi_1] = c_jungletree
+					elseif data[vi_2] == c_air or data[vi_2] == c_ignore then
+						data[vi_2] = c_jungletree
+					end
 				end
+				vi_1 = vi_1 + 1
+				vi_2 = vi_2 + 1
 			end
-			vi_1 = vi_1 + 1
-			vi_2 = vi_2 + 1
 		end
-	end
-
-	vm:set_data(data)
-	vm:write_to_map()
-	if vm.close ~= nil then
-		vm:close()
-	end
+	end)
 end
 
 
@@ -218,105 +193,93 @@ function default.grow_pine_tree(pos, snow)
 	local c_pine_needles  = minetest.get_content_id("default:pine_needles")
 	local c_snow = minetest.get_content_id("default:snow")
 
-	local vm = minetest.get_voxel_manip()
-	local minp, maxp = vm:read_from_map(
-		{x = x - 3, y = y, z = z - 3},
-		{x = x + 3, y = maxy + 3, z = z + 3}
-	)
-	local a = VoxelArea:new({MinEdge = minp, MaxEdge = maxp})
-	local data = vm:get_data()
+	default.do_with_area(pos:offset(-3, 0, -3), vector.new(x + 3, maxy + 3, z + 3), function(a, data)
+		-- Upper branches layer
+		local dev = 3
+		for yy = maxy - 1, maxy + 1 do
+			for zz = z - dev, z + dev do
+				local vi = a:index(x - dev, yy, zz)
+				local via = a:index(x - dev, yy + 1, zz)
+				for xx = x - dev, x + dev do
+					if random() < 0.95 - dev * 0.05 then
+						add_pine_needles(data, vi, c_air, c_ignore, c_snow,
+							c_pine_needles)
+						if snow then
+							add_snow(data, via, c_air, c_ignore, c_snow)
+						end
+					end
+					vi  = vi + 1
+					via = via + 1
+				end
+			end
+			dev = dev - 1
+		end
 
-	-- Upper branches layer
-	local dev = 3
-	for yy = maxy - 1, maxy + 1 do
-		for zz = z - dev, z + dev do
-			local vi = a:index(x - dev, yy, zz)
-			local via = a:index(x - dev, yy + 1, zz)
-			for xx = x - dev, x + dev do
-				if random() < 0.95 - dev * 0.05 then
+		-- Centre top nodes
+		add_pine_needles(data, a:index(x, maxy + 1, z), c_air, c_ignore, c_snow,
+			c_pine_needles)
+		add_pine_needles(data, a:index(x, maxy + 2, z), c_air, c_ignore, c_snow,
+			c_pine_needles) -- Paramat added a pointy top node
+		if snow then
+			add_snow(data, a:index(x, maxy + 3, z), c_air, c_ignore, c_snow)
+		end
+
+		-- Lower branches layer
+		local my = 0
+		for i = 1, 20 do -- Random 2x2 squares of needles
+			local xi = x + random(-3, 2)
+			local yy = maxy + random(-6, -5)
+			local zi = z + random(-3, 2)
+			if yy > my then
+				my = yy
+			end
+			for zz = zi, zi+1 do
+				local vi = a:index(xi, yy, zz)
+				local via = a:index(xi, yy + 1, zz)
+				for xx = xi, xi + 1 do
 					add_pine_needles(data, vi, c_air, c_ignore, c_snow,
 						c_pine_needles)
 					if snow then
 						add_snow(data, via, c_air, c_ignore, c_snow)
 					end
+					vi  = vi + 1
+					via = via + 1
 				end
-				vi  = vi + 1
-				via = via + 1
 			end
 		end
-		dev = dev - 1
-	end
 
-	-- Centre top nodes
-	add_pine_needles(data, a:index(x, maxy + 1, z), c_air, c_ignore, c_snow,
-		c_pine_needles)
-	add_pine_needles(data, a:index(x, maxy + 2, z), c_air, c_ignore, c_snow,
-		c_pine_needles) -- Paramat added a pointy top node
-	if snow then
-		add_snow(data, a:index(x, maxy + 3, z), c_air, c_ignore, c_snow)
-	end
-
-	-- Lower branches layer
-	local my = 0
-	for i = 1, 20 do -- Random 2x2 squares of needles
-		local xi = x + random(-3, 2)
-		local yy = maxy + random(-6, -5)
-		local zi = z + random(-3, 2)
-		if yy > my then
-			my = yy
-		end
-		for zz = zi, zi+1 do
-			local vi = a:index(xi, yy, zz)
-			local via = a:index(xi, yy + 1, zz)
-			for xx = xi, xi + 1 do
-				add_pine_needles(data, vi, c_air, c_ignore, c_snow,
-					c_pine_needles)
-				if snow then
-					add_snow(data, via, c_air, c_ignore, c_snow)
-				end
-				vi  = vi + 1
-				via = via + 1
-			end
-		end
-	end
-
-	dev = 2
-	for yy = my + 1, my + 2 do
-		for zz = z - dev, z + dev do
-			local vi = a:index(x - dev, yy, zz)
-			local via = a:index(x - dev, yy + 1, zz)
-			for xx = x - dev, x + dev do
-				if random() < 0.95 - dev * 0.05 then
-					add_pine_needles(data, vi, c_air, c_ignore, c_snow,
-						c_pine_needles)
-					if snow then
-						add_snow(data, via, c_air, c_ignore, c_snow)
+		dev = 2
+		for yy = my + 1, my + 2 do
+			for zz = z - dev, z + dev do
+				local vi = a:index(x - dev, yy, zz)
+				local via = a:index(x - dev, yy + 1, zz)
+				for xx = x - dev, x + dev do
+					if random() < 0.95 - dev * 0.05 then
+						add_pine_needles(data, vi, c_air, c_ignore, c_snow,
+							c_pine_needles)
+						if snow then
+							add_snow(data, via, c_air, c_ignore, c_snow)
+						end
 					end
+					vi  = vi + 1
+					via = via + 1
 				end
-				vi  = vi + 1
-				via = via + 1
+			end
+			dev = dev - 1
+		end
+
+		-- Trunk
+		-- Force-place lowest trunk node to replace sapling
+		data[a:index(x, y, z)] = c_pine_tree
+		for yy = y + 1, maxy do
+			local vi = a:index(x, yy, z)
+			local node_id = data[vi]
+			if node_id == c_air or node_id == c_ignore or
+					node_id == c_pine_needles or node_id == c_snow then
+				data[vi] = c_pine_tree
 			end
 		end
-		dev = dev - 1
-	end
-
-	-- Trunk
-	-- Force-place lowest trunk node to replace sapling
-	data[a:index(x, y, z)] = c_pine_tree
-	for yy = y + 1, maxy do
-		local vi = a:index(x, yy, z)
-		local node_id = data[vi]
-		if node_id == c_air or node_id == c_ignore or
-				node_id == c_pine_needles or node_id == c_snow then
-			data[vi] = c_pine_tree
-		end
-	end
-
-	vm:set_data(data)
-	vm:write_to_map()
-	if vm.close ~= nil then
-		vm:close()
-	end
+	end)
 end
 
 
diff --git a/mods/tnt/init.lua b/mods/tnt/init.lua
index 82306121..ca583444 100644
--- a/mods/tnt/init.lua
+++ b/mods/tnt/init.lua
@@ -294,12 +294,8 @@ end
 local function tnt_explode(pos, radius, ignore_protection, ignore_on_blast, owner, explode_center)
 	pos = vector.round(pos)
 	-- scan for adjacent TNT nodes first, and enlarge the explosion
-	local vm1 = VoxelManip()
-	local p1 = vector.subtract(pos, 2)
-	local p2 = vector.add(pos, 2)
-	local minp, maxp = vm1:read_from_map(p1, p2)
-	local a = VoxelArea:new({MinEdge = minp, MaxEdge = maxp})
-	local data = vm1:get_data()
+	-- TODO given that we're looking at a fraction of a mapblock here,
+	-- there is probably little reason to use VoxelManip.
 	local count = 0
 	local c_tnt
 	local c_tnt_burning = minetest.get_content_id("tnt:tnt_burning")
@@ -311,88 +307,74 @@ local function tnt_explode(pos, radius, ignore_protection, ignore_on_blast, owne
 	else
 		c_tnt = c_tnt_burning -- tnt is not registered if disabled
 	end
-	-- make sure we still have explosion even when centre node isnt tnt related
-	if explode_center then
-		count = 1
-	end
 
-	for z = pos.z - 2, pos.z + 2 do
-	for y = pos.y - 2, pos.y + 2 do
-		local vi = a:index(pos.x - 2, y, z)
-		for x = pos.x - 2, pos.x + 2 do
-			local cid = data[vi]
-			if cid == c_tnt or cid == c_tnt_boom or cid == c_tnt_burning then
-				count = count + 1
-				data[vi] = c_air
-			end
-			vi = vi + 1
+	default.do_with_area(pos:subtract(2), pos:add(2), function(a, data)
+		-- make sure we still have explosion even when centre node isnt tnt related
+		if explode_center then
+			count = 1
 		end
-	end
-	end
 
-	vm1:set_data(data)
-	vm1:write_to_map()
-	if vm1.close ~= nil then
-		vm1:close()
-	end
+		for z = pos.z - 2, pos.z + 2 do
+		for y = pos.y - 2, pos.y + 2 do
+			local vi = a:index(pos.x - 2, y, z)
+			for x = pos.x - 2, pos.x + 2 do
+				local cid = data[vi]
+				if cid == c_tnt or cid == c_tnt_boom or cid == c_tnt_burning then
+					count = count + 1
+					data[vi] = c_air
+				end
+				vi = vi + 1
+			end
+		end
+		end
+	end)
 
 	-- recalculate new radius
 	radius = math.floor(radius * math.pow(count, 1/3))
 
 	-- perform the explosion
-	local vm = VoxelManip()
 	local pr = PseudoRandom(os.time())
-	p1 = vector.subtract(pos, radius)
-	p2 = vector.add(pos, radius)
-	minp, maxp = vm:read_from_map(p1, p2)
-	a = VoxelArea:new({MinEdge = minp, MaxEdge = maxp})
-	data = vm:get_data()
-
 	local drops = {}
 	local on_blast_queue = {}
 	local on_construct_queue = {}
 	basic_flame_on_construct = minetest.registered_nodes["fire:basic_flame"].on_construct
 
-	-- Used to efficiently remove metadata of nodes that were destroyed.
-	-- Metadata is probably sparse, so this may save us some work.
-	local has_meta = {}
-	for _, p in ipairs(minetest.find_nodes_with_meta(p1, p2)) do
-		has_meta[a:indexp(p)] = true
-	end
+	local p1, p2 = pos:subtract(radius), pos:add(radius)
+	default.do_with_area(p1, p2, function(a, data) -- luacheck: ignore
+		-- Used to efficiently remove metadata of nodes that were destroyed.
+		-- Metadata is probably sparse, so this may save us some work.
+		local has_meta = {}
+		for _, p in ipairs(minetest.find_nodes_with_meta(p1, p2)) do
+			has_meta[a:indexp(p)] = true
+		end
 
-	local c_fire = minetest.get_content_id("fire:basic_flame")
-	for z = -radius, radius do
-	for y = -radius, radius do
-	local vi = a:index(pos.x + (-radius), pos.y + y, pos.z + z)
-	for x = -radius, radius do
-		local r = vector.length(vector.new(x, y, z))
-		if (radius * radius) / (r * r) >= (pr:next(80, 125) / 100) then
-			local cid = data[vi]
-			local p = {x = pos.x + x, y = pos.y + y, z = pos.z + z}
-			if cid ~= c_air and cid ~= c_ignore then
-				local new_cid = destroy(drops, p, cid, c_air, c_fire,
-					on_blast_queue, on_construct_queue,
-					ignore_protection, ignore_on_blast, owner)
+		local c_fire = minetest.get_content_id("fire:basic_flame")
+		for z = -radius, radius do
+		for y = -radius, radius do
+		local vi = a:index(pos.x + (-radius), pos.y + y, pos.z + z)
+		for x = -radius, radius do
+			local r = vector.length(vector.new(x, y, z))
+			if (radius * radius) / (r * r) >= (pr:next(80, 125) / 100) then
+				local cid = data[vi]
+				local p = {x = pos.x + x, y = pos.y + y, z = pos.z + z}
+				if cid ~= c_air and cid ~= c_ignore then
+					local new_cid = destroy(drops, p, cid, c_air, c_fire,
+						on_blast_queue, on_construct_queue,
+						ignore_protection, ignore_on_blast, owner)
 
-				if new_cid ~= data[vi] then
-					data[vi] = new_cid
-					if has_meta[vi] then
-						minetest.get_meta(p):from_table(nil)
+					if new_cid ~= data[vi] then
+						data[vi] = new_cid
+						if has_meta[vi] then
+							minetest.get_meta(p):from_table(nil)
+						end
 					end
 				end
 			end
+			vi = vi + 1
 		end
-		vi = vi + 1
-	end
-	end
-	end
-
-	vm:set_data(data)
-	vm:write_to_map()
-	vm:update_liquids()
-	if vm.close ~= nil then
-		vm:close()
-	end
+		end
+		end
+	end)
 
 	-- call check_single_for_falling for everything within 1.5x blast radius
 	for y = -radius * 1.5, radius * 1.5 do