Saw this article in Mother Earth News about obtaining and drying firewood. Worth a quick read, I picked up a trick or two about how to make splitting easier.
http://www.motherearthnews.com/modern-homesteading/how-to-dry-firewood-zm0z11zkon.aspx
http://www.motherearthnews.com/modern-homesteading/how-to-dry-firewood-zm0z11zkon.aspx