Pinewood PagesPine needle mulch
Tried pine needles as mulch around the strawberries. They stay loose, let the rain through and the slugs seem to dislike them. No sign of the soil turning sour so far, which is the usual warning, and from what I read it's mostly a myth for needles that are already brown.
The woods behind the house have an endless supply, so the price is right. A few buckets every couple of weeks.