Beginner Wood Harvesting/ Processing Question

Hello. I would like to ask about how I can best use the wood that I currently have available to me here in Canada on my property. To make a long story short, I have an unlimited supply of Canadian Birch, Poplar, and Maple. The sizes range from something extremely large like 4 to 5 feet in diameter to something that is as small as 8 to 12 inches in and 20 feet long. We cut and pile this wood in extreme quantities to supply an outdoor wood boiler on our property. Due to the amount of volume we go through the wood is piled very high, so much so that we use a loader to move it. It is exposed to all elements throughout the year, whether it is extreme heat, rain, or snow. Anything that is covered in the winter is pointless because it’s consumed on a weekly basis. The current wood in question that is left over has been sitting for roughly a year. Newly fresh cut wood is being worked on.

I want to use this wood for my carving. I’m looking at various sizes of of sculptures to make, ranging from something as small as a drink coaster to the dimensions of a Kleenex box, or a small to large picture frame size,and all the way up to potentially a life-size chainsaw and power tool carving.

Now that I’ve given you the information on my logs, here are my many questions.

1. Can I use this wood as is for my projects with the intention to make finished sculptures and are there general tips for using completely fresh cut wood to make final sculptures?

2. What are the best ways for me to process what I have available and prevent further cracking?

3. When artists out there on the internet and YouTube are using giant stumps with bark and everything, etc. are they literally working on a log thas been dried for 10 years?

4. I’ve been discovering special do it yourself wood drying kilns and I would like to make one. If anyone has any advice for this, that would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you very much!