Ken, our team Leader, with a Neem tree planted last year

Why We Work So Hard

JustNeem works with villagers in Mauritania, West Africa, to help establish economic opportunities for those living so close to the Sahara Desert. The Neem tree, is used to generate income for families simply by planting the tree and selling its leaves and fruit.

In collaboration with local organizations, we help create jobs centered around the Neem tree. With proceeds from our soap sales, we fund the planting of Neem trees in neighborhoods surrounding Nouakchott, the capital of Mauritania. We’ve been traveling back and forth to Mauritania, bringing Neem harvested there for the last 5 years, paying a fair market price for labor and goods.

Pay day!

Update From Peter

“After arriving in Nouakchott, the capital, I took a 10 hour trip to Kaedi, a city in the southern part where the Neem nursery and orchard are located.  I was very pleased to see so many people working the field. This trip was in the middle of summer and therefore among the most physically challenging ones I have taken so far. On the other hand it was a great reminder to see why we are doing all this in the first place.

I helped harvest 1000 Neem seeds from existing trees. Ken and his team have already planted them all to grow more trees for the orchard.

To see plants and trees growing in such a hostile environment as the Sahara Desert is rewarding. Between the Neem, Mango and Jathropha trees that have been planted in the orchard, the workers planted vegetables, melons, and sorghum. One lady from the village was able to harvest the vegetables and sell them at the local market this summer.

The well we dug last year has since been equipped with a solar water pump. That water makes all the difference. We did some maintenance on it, replacing one of the hoses that had weakened and started leaking with a flexible pipe.

It was incredibly heartwarming to see over 30 young men coming to the field during this time of the year to pull weeds, plant seedlings and water the plants. The resources and training opportunities that are coming in through JustNeem are turning parched land into a space full of life.”

Cary, NC – JustNeem has some great, all natural gift ideas for the Holidays. And remember, our gifts give back too. Every purchase you make helps us create income opportunities in West Africa.

Our Story

Making a positive change in the world is very important to JustNeem. Our focus is Mauritania, West Africa. This area of Africa is 90% desert and the people there suffer with extreme drought and poverty.

There are very few natural resources that exist there, except for the indigenous desert tree, the Neem Tree. This mahogany-like tree, grows well in this part of Africa.

Because of it’s healing properties and history in medicinal practices, Neem is the base for all our products.

JustNeem Gives Hope & Healing with Neem

In Mauritania, West Africa, we create jobs centered around this tree. We purchase all our Neem raw material from Mauritania, using existing Neem trees and paying a fair market price for labor and goods.

This helps create jobs and generates income for families living with few resources. This is why we call ourselves Just Neem!

With proceeds from soap sales, JustNeem is now funding the planting of Neem trees in neighborhoods and have established a Neem tree orchard.

Buy a Soap and Help Plant a Tree!

Without our loyal customer support, the Neem orchard in Mauritania would not be possible. Thank you and please continue to enjoy our all natural body and skincare products.

*Click on images to see them enlarged.

We received pictures from our team in the southern part of the country. Besides caring for the small, transplanted trees, Ken and his men are growing vegetables which show an almost immediate result with the ongoing summer season in the Sahara Desert . When days get too hot, they find shelter underneath the solar panel that powers the pump in the well.

Watch three short VIDEO CLIPS from the ongoing work at the Neem orchard in southern Mauritania.

**Click on images and see them enlarged.

“After several days of travelling I finally have an Internet connection. The Neem tree project is going well – 200 trees are now in the ground, and more are being planted (though barely visible, yet, they are there!). The mango trees looked really good, too. Ken, and his buddies are doing an awesome job!”

First Neem trees planted in JustNeem's orchard (in rows, front to back)

Ken and his work crew

“Mauritania had a lot of rain this year, and it was good rain, meaning it did not come in one big down pour; it was spaced out over several months. Even last night there was a little shower – it never rains here in November. But once the heat starts this will change. We are now saving up money for a pump so Ken and his men don’t have to carry water in watering cans to each newly transplanted tree.

Vegetables between newly planted trees

JUSTNEEM NURSERY. Here is where the seedlings are grown before they are planted in the orchard. Besides neem trees we are also experimenting with mango trees and jatropha to create biodiversity and to diversified sources of income. We have calculated that the fruits from 10 mango trees will provide sufficient annual income for an entire family. Jatropha is used to make biodiesel. The project currently supports four full-time employees plus 8 - 10 part time workers. In the background you see neem seedlings that will be planted in September, right before the rainy season.

THE WELL. Nothing goes without water. So we had to get a well to provide water for our trees, at least for the first 2 - 3 years or so. Two guys had just finished digging this well a week before we arrived. What an amazing job!! All done by hand, pick ax, shovel and bucket. One man in the hole, digging, the other pulling up the dirt. Check out the mounds of dirt.

WATER. At a depth of 24 meter they struck water. Can you see it? Want to know how deep 24 meters is? IF you want to know how much it is, Google it.

My aunt introduced me to JustNeem soaps about a year ago as a gift. We were both surprised to find it helped my acne. I have had problems with acne for years, and tried many products, including Proactiv without much success. The coconut neem soap has worked wonders! The redness and breakouts have improved greatly. I would recommend JustNeem to anyone who is seeking an all natural, mild soap to improve skin irritations. The extra benefit is knowing the product’s goal of helping families in Mauritania. What a deal!

Check out our natural soaps in the JustNeem store.

Our first purchase of Mauritanian Neem has arrived!

These are the leaves we received from Mauritania. See how Ben and his wife processed the leaves in the video below!

We also received some Neem Seeds from Mauritania

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