Method: Drying
If the manure isn't dry - really dry - it isn't going to burn. Less than 20% moisture content is optimal for self-sustaining combustion. For the most part the bricks were simply left to dry in the sun and wind, and given the right weather this works well. In many areas however, the right weather is inconstant, and even a light rain can spoil days of dry time as well as dissolve the bricks themselves. After combating the elements and waiting too long for things to dry over and over, we built a simple solar dehydrator. Many plans are available elsewhere but ours is built simple from scrap salavage from the local dump. This keeps the bricks out of the weather and heats them to well above ambient temperatures (~130 degrees F) for much faster drying.