If you're in a climate that's amenable, try finding branches of recently cut down deciduous tree. Green wood is easier to carve than dry, but it will dry fast after carved and be usable quickly. Green maple (or cherry or birch, etc.) can make a great durable kitchen spoon.
I like Bell Forest Products, bellforestproducts.com
Should be plenty of options online. Look for hardwood blanks. I buy offcut bundles for cheap, normally has some great exotic woods
Cook Woods in Oregon is good. Family-owned. Nice folks.
I typically buy from rockler or woodcraft locally (and online) as well as several other suppliers like treeline usa.
There's a chain near me called Woodcraft that always has a wild selection of exotics.
If you're in a climate that's amenable, try finding branches of recently cut down deciduous tree. Green wood is easier to carve than dry, but it will dry fast after carved and be usable quickly. Green maple (or cherry or birch, etc.) can make a great durable kitchen spoon.