Hi Matt,
re:
"On this forum I have occasionally read replies to the beginner that s/he begin with stock of some kind, but I have found it much more common to read that the interested party might want to buy a book or attend a club meeting. Our FAQ attempts to be as evenhanded as possible in discussing the various ways of acquiring bonsai."
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Sure, no slight meant to how this list is handled, nor is my post meant to imply that "all" the advice offered in online forums is as I cited. Rather, I'm referring to the pervading opinion on what material to start with in bonsai.
Kind regards,
Andy Rutledge
http://www.bonsai365.com/ :: living bonsai every day
zone 8, Texas