pine trees are all over the place around here (durham, north carolina)! if you're like me, however, and the evergreen fairy didn't bless your property with any, find a neighbor with some. i have a non-gardening neighbor who used to hate raking up pine needles until i came along. i volunteer to rake his yard and gleefully take the free mulch home for use in my garden.

we have a running joke -- when i'm done filling my trash bags and stuffing them into my car, i knock on my neighbor's door and say, "OK, i'm finished here. thank you so much." and he answers with, "no, thank YOU!"