With older stoves you can get away with less seasoned wood. Newer air tight (EPA) stoves really need dry wood to work properly. I have both. I heat my house with an Englander 30NC and my shop with an old Sierra from the 1970s or 80s. My preferred wood is Locust. Poplar is good for short burns and shoulder season. My wife also likes it because it's light and she feeds the stove during the day.