7/10/2025
A couple months ago, I was chatting with one of my amazing clients—we always connect over mom life and whatever household projects we’ve got going on. She casually mentioned this company called Chip Drop that delivers free unprocessed mulch. Um, yes please?! I have a bunch of garden beds, mulch is expensive, and I’m always looking for natural ways to improve my yard. Plus, I loved the idea of unprocessed wood chips straight from the source.
I checked out their website, poked around their Instagram, and was officially sold when I saw a reel about using wood chips to grow mushrooms. (You know I was all in at that point.) I figured anything I didn’t use in the beds could go toward the mushroom garden I’ve been dreaming about.
So I signed up.
But First, Here’s How Chip Drop Works:
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It’s completely free. You can choose to make a small donation (I gave $20 to support their mission), but there’s no required cost.
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You don’t get to pick the date, color, or amount—you just sign up, and when an arborist in your area has a load, they drop it off.
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The average delivery is about 20 cubic yards. Which I thought meant 20 bags. It does not mean 20 bags. It means an actual mountain of mulch in your driveway.
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Still, I was up for the challenge. This was my bright idea, after all, and I didn’t want to drag my whole household into it. So I tackled it myself—wheelbarrow by wheelbarrow. It took me five days (and a lot of sunscreen), but I cleaned up all my beds, created new ones, mulched the garden, and even set aside space for mushroom beds.
Why I’d Recommend It (Even After All That Wheelbarrowing):
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It’s free or super affordable. Seriously—20+ yards of mulch for the cost of a small donation (or no donation)? You can’t beat that.
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It’s organic and unprocessed. No dyes, no chemicals—just good old-fashioned wood chips and leaves that actually help feed your soil.
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It keeps green waste out of landfills. Arborists need a place to drop it off anyway—why not let it benefit your yard?
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It builds up your soil naturally. Over time, wood chips break down and improve the structure and fertility of your garden beds.
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It’s perfect for mushroom lovers. Natural wood chips make a great substrate for growing mushrooms. (More on that in Part 2!)
Now, one small hiccup. My dad (a.k.a. the green thumb in our family) reminded me that raw wood chips can attract ants and other critters—especially if they’re placed too close to the house. Good point, Garry! So I called my brother Sonny, who owns Ground Level Pest Control, and asked if he had a natural treatment for the chips. He came by, treated the perimeter of the house for ants-problem solved!
Final Thoughts
Would I do it again? Absolutely. It was a bit of a workout, but my yard looks incredible and I feel good about using something so natural and sustainable. Chip Drop made it easy, and I even made space to grow some mushrooms—which I’ll share more about soon in Part 2!
And a quick reminder—if you're out working in your yard like I was, don’t forget your sun protection! Our Myco-C Serum is packed with antioxidants that help protect your skin from UV damage and prevent hyperpigmentation. It layers beautifully under SPF, and it’s one of my favorite outdoor skin hacks.