FOSS gamedev and creative worlds

I am unable to craft wooden picks. In some games this is all right as I already have some stone and can make stone picks instead, but how can I fix this issue?

Using latest minetest from the ppa on lubuntu.

Are you using 3 wooden planks (of any type) and 2 sticks?

I was using all sticks. I assumed that they would fall under the wood category as well :o

I can't make gunpowder either.

Wiki: http://wiki.minetest.net/Main_Page

Getting started: http://wiki.minetest.net/Getting_Started
FAQ: http://wiki.minetest.net/FAQ

Crafting: http://wiki.minetest.net/Crafting
Smelting: http://wiki.minetest.net/Smelting
Blocks: http://wiki.minetest.net/Blocks
Items: http://wiki.minetest.net/Items
Tutorials: http://wiki.minetest.net/Tutorials

I read all those articles, in addition to searching the forums, prior to starting a new thead.