Cutting down trees to clear farm plots, while getting logs for cabin: win-win
Before burning lumber for preparing the soil, check the ground first with shovel. If it's too cold / frozen to dig a pit, it's too cold to prepare the soil. But you can always spread the lumber ready for burning.
I like small plots surrounded by fences with some light lever traps and small deadfalls here and there. Birds, hares and badgers seem love to tear up my plots.