Healing with Neem

Tanzania is a country rich in ancient trees. Some of them are so big that you need many people to join hands to embrace them. They have witnessed the history of many human generations. Our shamba has some of these amazng trees, including Baobab, Moringa, and Neem. We named our organization after the Baobab tree which produces fruits rich in potassium, vitamin C, antioxidants, calcium, magnesium and fiber. 

The Neem is a tree that came from India and has many uses in Ayurvedic medicine. It grows very well under the African heat, but because it is not native, it can get invasive and must be carefully managed. Sometimes it can damage the buildings with its roots. We love Neem because it can help us take care of our teeth and our health. We can chew its twigs or make tea with its leaves. It has antiviral, antibacterial and healing properties. And, it can even be used to treat malaria. Many people use Neem products for their dental and skin care, or as supplements. We also use it as a fungicide for kids, which is a very common issue given our hot and humid climate. 

Neem gets used around the farm too. One of our farmers, Pendo, who comes from the Maasai tribe, uses Neem for chickens both orally and topically. She uses a very large mortar and pestle to ground up Neem and mixes it in with the chicken feed to increase their appetite, improve the growth and reduce heat stress. And, it sometimes gets applied topically to treat chicken lice. Neem also gets used as a topical fungicide and pesticide spray. The neem gets pounded and mixed with chilies, soap, and water for a liquid application around some crops. 

The demand for Neem is increasing as more people discover its benefits. One of our goals is to plant more healing trees like Neem, Baobab and Moringa, and learn how to extract their oils and make useful. 

If you think you can be of any help, don't hesitate to reach out!