I can relate to that, i'm living it rite now. And i'm flying more than i did last year.

Over here, the BMFA(governing body) sponsors a university program which encourages engineering minded students to design build and fly a load lifting plane given a set engine and radio. Some pretty amazin entries come out of it. Maybe encouraging the college to run something similar could facilitate you with a field and some resources, possibly even transport if you ask nice. just a thought.