[bravemurphy]

I am looking at making one of these for up the lotty but we have not got any power up there.

So I am looking at constructing a Rocket mass heater and for the fuel, well a lot of it I was going to try and burn dried brassica stalks with a bit of wood to get it going.

Has anyone got one or seen one in action?

[crh75]

My understanding of a hotbed is a pile of fresh manure covered in a layer (6inches) of top soil and covered with a cold frame.  The manure decomposes and produces the heat.

[Goosegirl]

No wonder you are called bravemurphy - I would be scared of setting fire to something!! As crh75 says, the Victorians used to do a hot bed using the method he describes. If you can get hold of some fresh manure, it's worth trying, though I have a feeling that they were under cover like in a greenhouse or a very large cold frame.