- Compost can be used as a heat source for growing seedlings on hot beds and in greenhouses. - A compost pile can reach temperatures of 140 degrees or more during decomposition. - The heat from the compost pile can be captured by covering hot beds with low tunnels made from hoops and plastic. - Hot beds, warmed by decomposing manure, have been used for thousands of years by farmers and gardeners around the world. - Building a hot bed requires time, knowledge, and resources, but it is not difficult. - Once a hot bed is built, it can emit heat quietly, safely, and reliably for months. - The article provides a written guide and video series on compost heating. - The educational materials are provided free of charge, thanks to grant funding from the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry.