I'm not sure how he does it, but Neil Collins who runs the old VVS sugarhouse uses chips. PM him, collinsmapleman2012, he can shed light on it.
I do know foe one thing they harvest willow shoots in a dense planting and then dry (or partially dry them). Neil can give you some info. I do have his phone number but do not have permission to give it out. If a PM doesn't get an answer, PM me with your email or phone #. I'll then call Neil and give hime the info.
Among other things, that arch is fed by a conveyor feeding chips into an box with a continuous auger feeding the fire. That part alone might exclude a real small operation. He can tell you how the chips are dried, how far they are dried, how mold is controlled and other issues with burning chips. I doubt it is a method that can be done using a shovel to feed the fire.
Wood might well be your best bet. Cut now and split small is the key, then stack it off the ground to dry., a roof over it helps, along with air circulation.
Dave Klish, I recently ordered a 2x6 wood fired evaporator from A&A Sheet Metal which I will be converting to oil fired
Now have solar, 2x6 finish pan, 5 bank 7x7 filter press, large water jacketed bottler, and tankless water heater.
Recently bought another Gingerich RO, this one was a 125, but a second membrane was added thus is a 250, like I had.
After running a 2x3, a 2x6, 3x8 tapping from 79 taps up to 1320 all woodfired, now I'm going to a 2x6 oil fired and a 200-425 taps.