Leaves alone don't seem to do a good job of it. Before I started a compost pile, I spent a few years just raking the leaves to the back of the yard, by the slope going up to the railroad track, and it seemed like the bottom of the pile would simply get slimier and slimier. Eventually, the pile would get smaller but without leaving behind any noticeable compost. Added to a compost pile that includes a bunch of other stuff, I think the leaves are maybe the biggest contributor, though.
Leaf mold adds tilth and trace minerals, but will not support cultivation on its own. That is why woodland is generally poorer soil than grassland. Compare central New York with Iowa or Nebraska.
Leaves from deciduous trees are the brown in conventional compost @Marie Mallery but leaf mold is something different. It works in a way similar to peat moss in that it adds tilth and some trace minerals, but little in the way of NPK and such. It helps the soil retain moisture too. That would be a good thing in the usual sandy soil of Florida, but I don't know what deciduous trees you have there.
Don we have mostly water oaks, some live oats, Mulberry, Sycamore ,have lots of Bay, wild Cherry and Cedar we don't ever use.
I have a Virginia Cherry growing that I planted over 25 years ago. I has survived some awful winters, but it is only about 3 feet tall after all these years, and, of course, never bloomed.
I have my work cut out for me, need to turn over the raised bed so we can plant some greens in a day or so. First Jake has to mow around the bed so the chiggar community is not high on the grass. I'm still fighting the itch from walking trail.
You could try a Weed Dragon or similar knockoff if your fire danger isn't high. The bugs and arachnids get cooked as you pass over them.
They aren't that bad @Marie Mallery. Here is a link to a knock off Amazon version. Propane will get more expensive as the oil price rises though.
Thanks for the link don, no that isn't bad at all. I'll let Jake see it and see what he thinks. he is working on the van now, putting a heat sensor on it. Transmission still acts up. He is very good at figuring out anything mechanical. Don also I still have to turn over the dirt. I try to go deep enough so the weed or grass doesn't come back up. Plus I can use the exercise for glucose control. I think that weed burner will come in handy for the hügelkultur mound that is full of weeds and other projects.