Log cutting
There’s little doubt that log-burning is the way to go if you have an open fire or a wood stove in your stone fireplace. It’s eco friendly in as much as it’s carbon neutral, and with a bit of hard work, you can collect quite a bit of ‘free’ fuel from fallen trees on the roadside or from any fields you may have near you with the landowner’s permission.
There’s something lovely about a wood fire burning in stone fireplaces, and different woods have different benefits. Oak and ash are without doubt the best, as they burn slow and hot, and therefore give you lots of heat per log. Other woods can smell wonderful too. Apple and Cherry logs (wild cherry trees are remarkably common, and very fast growing) both smell lovely, and they actually give a hint of the fruit in their smell.
Whatever you burn though, make sure it’s well seasoned. Burning wet wood in your stone fireplace just wastes the fuel, as all the energy is used up in evaporating the moisture, and not in radiating heat. Logs should be seasoned (dried) for at least 12 months prior to burning, and longer for bigger logs or harder woods.
If you can’t store a year’s supply, and that does take up a lot of space, see if you can buy your logs from a supplier who seasons his own supply before selling. It makes a bit difference.