Lots of people have experimented with just about any type of fuel you can imagine, and many of them have written in the forums here about their experiences. Most alternatives to stick wood require some type of feeder, and there are plenty of variations if you search the forum for a particular fuel.
First, you drop a couch from the plane, THEN you surf it. Here, take this tiny ad with you:
Rocket Mass Heater Smackdown: J-Tube vs. Batch Box