How to make Birch trees for furniture?

I have to cut some trees from my property, mostly birch and thought that just turning into firewood, that I would create some furniture from them. I am planning on keeping them intact as much as posssible. Looking for ideas on how to properly dry them out and extract the sap from them. Should I seal the lumber with, say a urethane, schellac, and/or other preservative and if so, would I just seal/protect from where I cut them? Any other tips appreciated!