Abstract: Wood from broad-leaved and/or coniferous woody plants, particularly bushwood or waste wood or wood obtained in wood-growing plantations, is processed in that wood in a green state is chopped to form wood chips and is mixed with accompanying or additional fermentable green plant material, which has also been comminuted. The resulting mixture is compacted to form a compacted body of plant material in a space which is airtightly enclosed at least on the sides and at the bottom. The compacted body is fermented in said space to generate heat of fermentation, which is used to dry the compacted body so that water vapor and gases are evolved, which are permitted to escape. The fermentable green plant material may consist of the bark and leaves of broad-leaved woody plants, of the leaves of leaved plants, of grass, or of mixtures of said materials.