What kind of projects? I live on the west coast now. I get wood for bowl turning several ways. I get what they have. I get wood from companies that cut down trees for homeowners, parks, power companies, etc. They need to either shred it up, or pay to dump it at the 'green' landfill. If I take it away, it helps them.

You can search for portable sawmills. Tell them what you are looking for. Keep an eye on the 'materials' and 'free' sections of craigslist. Someone will mill up batches of what they have and post it there. You can put a wanted ad on craigslist too. I bet there is a vendor who has some slab wood in the area.

I have also connected with a couple of loggers who are on the look out for certain woods, like fruit wood or nut trees. A couple years ago, I could not get enough wood. Now I have too much, and more coming in each week.