#11 Pine Needle Mulch
Instead of lugging around a heavy wheelbarrow of wood chips, put down a three to four-inch layer of pine mulch around plants. Be sure to leave a space of about three inches around the base of each plant. As a result of their shape, the needles interlock and don’t compact as quickly as wood chips do. This means your soil still gets good air circulation.
#12 Pine Needle Pathways
Use pine needles to line the rows in your garden. After you have your garden planted, put down a layer of pine needles in each row to help keep weeds down, and to prevent erosion.
#13 Pine Needle Castile Soap
There’s nothing more refreshing than pine-scented soap to wake you up in your morning shower. Put two cups of pine needles in a quart jar and fill to the top with olive oil. Let the oil infuse in a warm, dark place for a month. After that, strain your pine-scented oil and use it with this great castile soap recipe. It’s a recipe that’s easy enough for a beginner soap-maker.
#14 Coiled Pine Needle Baskets
Several Native American tribes used pine needles to make baskets. They would make coils with bunches of needles and sew the baskets together. These baskets were sturdy and beautiful. Some were tightly woven; then the insides smeared with pine pitch so they could hold water.
#15 Beard Balm
You can make some homemade Rosemary and Pine Beard Balm with smells of fresh pine.
#16 Pine Needle Infused Cooking Oil
Another great infusion to cook with is pine needle oil. It’s just as simple to make as the infused vinegar, and far more versatile. You’ll want to choose a good quality cooking oil, such as extra virgin olive oil, grape-seed oil, or even avocado oil. Add 1/3 cup of pine needles to a jelly jar (8 oz.) top up with your oil choice. Store in a warm, dark place where time can work its magic for around 2-4 weeks. Strain the oil into a clean jar.
