So scrounging the neighbors trash piles for tree limbs and leaves it is.

you can scrounge and scavenge anywhere, from time to time do it in the feild too just be aware of what your doing when doing it. I say do it in the feild (or just do the looking) to get used to the enviroment and what you'll be seeing when the time comes to use your new skills. The main thing is to practice all of the potentialy destructive skill in a safe enviroment ie.. your back yard.

I've done similar. They don't mind it so much if I tell them I just want to help clean up their yard some. Usually it is with the ones that know me well enough not to think I'm a nut for asking.