Seasoning firewood

[Beauregard]

We have a wood-burning fireplace. Up until now I have just bought firewood by the truckload but as we were clearing trails, we have plenty of wood on site so wanted to get back to the days of splitting our own but am unfamiliar with the process and timeline.

What trees are desirable and what should be avoided?
How long between felling the tree and splitting?
How long between splitting and burning?
How can one find fat lighter?

fireplace: hardwoods only other than small amounts of kindling
avoid sweet gum if splitting by hand
split immediately after cutting if doing so by hand
dead standing hardwoods would be my first targets if wood is needed immediately
allow live-cut wood to season at least six months after splitting
fat lighter: look for old dead standing pines or stumps. Exterior wood rots away leaving resin concentrated in solid core. Carry an axe while searching to check possible sources.

[2thDoc]

look at mr nice guy.
you must be friends with boozer

[Duck cutter]

I had to move mine today and it made me think of this thread

A pair of timber tongs is money well spent if you ever thing you may be dragging trees/trunks with a tractor

[Palmetto Bug]

I was standing in line at an old country store several years ago with a new pair of log tongs. A guy and his wife/girlfriend got in line behind me and she whispered to him to ask what they were for. Without cracking a smile, he said, "Those are for picking up pigs." She was a bit skeptical and asked, "Really?" He followed up with, "Well, you don't see any other handles on pigs do you?" I could barely contain myself and I still get a chuckle every time I use them.