Mostly you could ask it to open a door for you, or send someone else a message. A ship could do more -- the towns are very young, so aren't that smart. And... well, it's the same way I heal someone. You just touch it and... tell the town. Just like I tell your skin cells to regrow in a certain way. Even a human can open doors with some small changes to them so the town recognizes them.
And the town... I remember Tino didn't even realize it was alive until my mother pointed it out. So it looked like the same kind of thatched huts in a forest that someone might build, but the roofs were green to gather energy, like plants do, and we could direct it to change. Build more places to live or light up the inside of houses at night, or make food that it's seen before.
And I don't mind talking about home. Especially when it doesn't bother you.