I just wanted to see how many people are doing either as I have seen freeze thaw being promoted on the forums a lot while my experience has taught me the exact opposite.

Freezing then blending the bark makes the whole thing melt and then you are left with wet bark in the blender that doesn't decompose, just sticks to the blades... even freezing in water and blending too.

Now, I only ever blend when the bark is dry as it pulverizes to a crisp when it is nice and crispy.

I just stick it in a garden mulcher... then leave some in the sun while some in the oven somewhere between 100-200

Then it goes in to a 1000w blender (four blade arms). If you want to save time buy two. Then you tilt the blender halfway onto it's side (90 degrees tilt) and shake it and then let it do the work. The tilt makes it not stick to the bottom and rush all over the jug providing more contact with blades. I put in two big handfulls and it usually it takes 2 minutes but bigger whole bits (5x15cm) may take double that time and that gets it in to a powder/shredded form like this:



I also lift the blender lid of infront of a fan and window so that I don't breath in all the particles otherwise I would be picking purple boogers for a week!

I blend it with water. Works just as well but no dust or mess.

Wow! Really? I tried to blend it with water and the best it gets is a mulched form like really thick shredded, never powder or finely shredded.

How does your look though?

In my experience, the blending is one of the more frustrating aspects. personally I prefer to REMOVED pre-blended bark.

However, I would have to agree with you, that blending when dry makes it quite a bit easier.

Last time, I actually broke the bark down as much as I possibly could by hand/scissor, THEN blended it.

its going to depend on your blender.
Simply put, not all blenders are created equal.
Power, and blade quality will play a big part.

Agree about the blender quality, you want to get something that as good as a vitamix but without the £500 price tag.

One like this http://www.ebay.co.uk/it...6910?hash=item5b0b2dadbe

or like this http://www.amazon.co.uk/...T=_AC_UL160_SR131%2C160_

Anything 1500Watt or above should be fine. Worth the investment

My blended minosa looks like a milkshake. No strands, no fibres.

If you look second hand sometimes you can find a good deal on something close to 1000w which will do the job.

Still I don't know why I have seen so many people encouraging freeze thawing on the forums, it was almost impossible!