I would suggest that you use anything to add humus / fiber to the soil will keep it broken up , water permable, and the fibers will retain moisture for plants.
Use your leaves, and your neighbors leaves after they have been broken up with a lawn mower.
If your community bags leaves, get some and you can add them as you harvest crops so that you have a three season supply for next year.
If you have the space , create a compost pile for your kitchen (no meat/ no fat) scraps.
Also , worms which are 'natures soil enrichment converters' thrive in moist leaves and compost.
I would save the pine needles as a weed suppressent and to use as a top mulch for the garden.
Way back when I would have planted a cover crop for the winter. But as this is only my second year here I just tilled my leaves into the soil last year.
I am in a rural township with farms across from me and a microbrewery behind me, so I have all the leaves I want.
I am going to approach one of the farmers to see if I can get some manure from him.
I am a huge believer in cow crap. Chicken manure is best, but cow flop does fine.
If I wasn’t renting I would probably build a small chicken coop and have manure and eggs.
My landlord and his wife are in their late eighties and their children are all business, so I think I will leave well enough alone.
Come spring, when I start cutting grass again, I am going to start a good compost pile.
I will probably use pallets from the local store to build a three sided bin and woven wire for the front.
By spring I will have the bin built and a nice layer of dry leaves ready for the clippings.
The local store sells worms during fishing season, so I should be set.
I have several potted plants, legacies from the previous resident, that I am getting rid of.
I will add that old potting soil to the garden. About two yards total. Did I say several plants? More like many!