Jotul makes an attractive stove for sure. A buddy has one and to me it looks like a piece of art compared to some stoves out there.

• 3 year plan means you’ve got wood you’re burning this year, wood set away for next year, and wood stacked and ready for the following year. The idea is to be burning wood that’s been cut / split / stacked for 3 years so the moisture is low. I have a Woodstock stove- one with a catalyst. Certainly use caution but I use compressed wood bricks with the cordwood I have. I find it to burn clean and produce much less ash. Cost is a little higher but then wood usage is a bit lower. Kind of a personal preference thing. Last- the idea behind the couple pieces of pine is essentially that it gets a hot/fast fire going and burns down the coals / winds up creating less ash. Why? Honestly I don’t know, but the old timers were talking about it a few years ago so I gave it a whirl, and they were right. Good luck burning!