The Hugelkultur Chapter from Edible Landscaping with a Permaculture Twist by Michael Judd

ugh oh.. I just got a load of pine, that a neighbor cut down, to start our first hugelculture bed.  I read in this book not to use pines...  we have alkaline soil so I thought this would be perfect to bring the PH closer to neutral over time.

What is the reason not to use pine?  

Sandy

S Smithsson wrote:ugh oh.. I just got a load of pine, that a neighbor cut down, to start our first hugelculture bed.  I read in this book not to use pines...  we have alkaline soil so I thought this would be perfect to bring the PH closer to neutral over time.

What is the reason not to use pine?  

Sandy

Me too!  My place is right in the middle of two pine forests!!  Is there no hugel hope for me?
David (Spain)

We are going to use the pine.  I figure that since it is in the woods we can use it in our yard. :)

You can use pine. I use pine. If I remember correctly Paul himself used pine in "Hugelkulter Micro Documentary" link.
Each wood will add some character to a hugelkultur bed. Pine has resin which slows decomposition a bit. It will have different soil biota which prefer different pH or chemical composition. Some plants prefer it, some don't. Nevertheless always try to add as much as variety to the pile, some pockets of straw, some parts a bit heavier on needles, some on softwood etc. Diversity is key, not the type of wood (generally). There are exceptions (allelopathic trees or trees for better use). You can check good wood bad wood thread for that info. Here is the link: Hugelkultur -- good wood, bad (allelopathic) wood You can find info about which plants grow very well on pine-hugels in that thread.

David Glanfield wrote:
Me too!  My place is right in the middle of two pine forests!!  Is there no hugel hope for me?
David (Spain)

Sure you can. Since you are in Spain, I want to give a heads up about using introduced trees in hugels. As I know, a lot of non native plants were used in Spain in reforestation or plantings. They may rot somehow slower compared to their native habitat (due to lack of related fungi or insects etc). Also putting a drip line or mulching heavily (might not be enough though) will help in Mediterranean climate OR alternatively you can try burried wood beds ( Buried Wood Beds ) which is basicly underground hugels.