Depending on the specific area we live in there are specific woods indigenous to the area. One of my interests over the last few years has been learning to use woods existing on the property I own to make things with. Derek and other posters here on SMC have contributed to my moving in this direction thought wise. I am sympathetic with those who attempt to recycle and find uses for abundant local woods that may typically be ignored.
I have been living in North Metro Atlanta which has an abundance of certain types of wood. I am in the process of moving into the north Georgia mountain area which has a little different selection of woods. The designs for homes in this area tend to be more rustic and use the abundant woods for construction of not just the frames of homes but the walls, ceilings and just about everything else.
There are still old style saw mills in this area, which process the abundant wood. There is an abundance of three types of wood in this area that are often ignored or under utilized. There are large apple orchards in the area, which produce large amounts of trimmed wood from all the apple trees every year. I believe I can purchase truck loads of this wood at very reasonable prices, saving the better pieces from ending up in a smoker.
Another abundant tree/scrub that grows prolifically in this area is the rhododendron. The undergrowth on the property I have a contract on is not grasses, it is rhododendron. The other common wood in this area is Hemlock, which is currently being killed back due to some sort of wooly adelgid. Protecting trees from this insect is very expensive, so a common practice is to choose a limited number to treat/preserve and just take the others down before they die.
I am researching these woods on the information highway, but would love to hear from other SMC posters about any uses they have found for these woods. I tried to make some links but every page I try to post here seems to force the user into some advertisement or sign up routine....Grrrr!