Why is it so hard to find Hershey’s Cocoa Shell Mulch in South Jersey?
I randomly called 26 garden centers in Burlington, Camden, Gloucester and Mercer Counties looking for it. I found only one store carrying it: Dambly’s Garden Center in Berlin (856-767-6883).
I also called The Hershey Company. Played phone tag with the media relations dept. for a couple of days. I’ll let you know what they say when I finally connect.
It’s available in abundance at nurseries in and around the town of Hershey, PA. In fact it’s cheaper out there too, by almost half. But by the time you factor a tank and a half of gasoline and family tickets to Hershey Park, your true cost per bag is probably closer to 100 bucks.
The stuff is good. It’s 100% organic. No dyes. Suppresses weeds. Conserves moisture and improves soil texture. Deters insects (slugs hate it!). Keeps its looks for a couple seasons. Lightweight and easy to spread - - it only takes a one inch layer to be effective.
Cocoa shell mulch adds organic matter and nutrients to the soil as it breaks down, unlike manufactured mulches that actually rob the soil of nutrients. It contains nitrogen, phosphate and potash.
It’s even environmentally PC. The Hershey factory in central PA generates more than 10,000 tons of the stuff annually making chocolate goodies, that would otherwise end up in a landfill.
I’ve even heard a gardener claim it repels deer.
Oh yeah, and it has the enticing aroma of brownies baking in the oven. Mmmm.
Cocoa shell mulch has all the ingredients of a status symbol: it’s hard to acquire, it’s expensive, it’s exotic. I can just imagine McMansioneers bragging: “My landscaper won’t let anything but Hershey’s Cocoa Shell Mulch touch the inside of his wheelbarrow.”
It may even have sex appeal: “Yo baby, wanna check out my perennial bed? It’s mulched with the husks of roasted cocoa beans imported from Honduras.”
Kinda put’s a whole new spin on chocolate and roses as an aphrodisiac.
Comments (4)
What a great idea and dream-come-true for chocoholics! Wish it was available everywhere.
Lauri Ward
Use What You Have Interiors
Posted by lauri ward | April 18, 2008 10:37 AM
Posted on April 18, 2008 10:37
Dog owners need to be careful, however. From the Hershey's Web site ...
"Question: Is it true that cocoa shell mulch can be harmful to dogs?
Answer: Cocoa shell mulch, like chocolate products, contains theobromine, a naturally occurring stimulant in the cocoa bean. Unlike humans, animals like dogs are often sensitive to the theobromine, which can lead to toxicity and even death in some animals. Cocoa shell mulch packaged by The Hershey Company contains a warning on the front and back of each bag. Click here to view the warning.
Question: Why would a dog eat cocoa mulch?
Answer: Dogs and other animals are often attracted by the aroma from cocoa shell mulch. Because it can be harmful to animals if ingested, think carefully about where you choose to apply the mulch and supervise your pets. These measures can effectively eliminate the possibility of animal consumption in a quantity sufficient to cause adverse affects."
Posted by Jennifer | April 18, 2008 12:33 PM
Posted on April 18, 2008 12:33
It's available at my local garden center -- Albrecht's, in Narberth (just outside of Philly, on the western side). Pretty reasonably priced, too -- $7.95 for 2 cubic feet, I think?
I bought some but haven't put it down yet.
Posted by Katie | May 30, 2008 10:12 AM
Posted on May 30, 2008 10:12
this is very bad stuff and is true killer of dogs.
shame on Hershey for this crap.
Posted by Anonymous | September 27, 2008 3:27 AM
Posted on September 27, 2008 03:27