Darrell and Bill are right.
When I hear a chainsaw, it is like the call of the wild. I am drawn to it... in my pickup... hoping it isn't clearing of old junk along a hedge.
Even though I am in construction, I arrive after the lot is cleared. However, cleared constuction sites can ofter have good brush piles, and some good stuff has been found there.
Another source I never see anyone talk about is dunnage. Around here, most of the dunnage is 4X4 of some type of hardwood. Some of it is great stuff.
When I was looking for something different to turn, and in my upcoming bowl class, I will take a piece of dunnage and smooth a face on it. Then I cut it in half and glue the smooth edges together to make a bowl blank 4 inches thick and 8 inches across. When making small oil lamp bases, I have even glued a piece of scrap that contrasts the two pieces for more variety. And of course, you can go bigger too, by just glueing on another piece on to make it 12 inches wide to make your blank Remeber to cut the pieces to the correct length by determining the width first.
You can also use the 4X4 to turn gavels, mallets, scoops, spoons, and anything else you could think of
It's a great way to use something that will go in a dumpster.
Robert