I live in Jersey too. I can get dried construction grade lumber.
Just shop around at a real lumber yard.

I would see if they will take it back.
Also this will be a fine bench for a newbie.
When you are ready for maple, this will be a good finishing, or assembly
bench. When you need to drive screws into it you won't be afraid to. You
can build your own stop blocks, clamping devices right into the bench.

What you'll learn building this will help on the next bench. But this
one will last you quite a few years.

Make sure you clamp up all the dried lumber for 2 or 3 weeks to hold it
from warping while it finishes air drying in your shop. Or build it and
weight it down with some cement or sand bags for a few weeks after while
it dries assembled. After the wood is dried you can level the top.

Josh wrote:
On Jan 24, 10:19 pm, "Lew Hodgett" wrote:
"Josh" wrote:
But I've run into a snag before I even begin. Much of the lumber
that
I had delivered to my home green...
If you are in someplace like SoCal, then wait for it to quit raining,
then sticker it outside exposed to the sun for a few weeks.

Will also work in colder climates, just take longer.

Lew

I wish I was in SoCal! I'm in New Jersey, so it's currently about
between 15 and 35 degrees these days. The wood is in my garage so
it's not as cold in there, probably in the mid 40s. Do you think the
lumber yard will come pick it up and exchange it for some kiln dried
wood. dried wood seems hard to find in NJ.