Abaco Neem was founded in early 1993 by proprietor Nick Miaoulis, a native Bahamian introduced to neem by Mr. John Conrick, the President of the neem Association at a botanical show in Gainesville, Florida. He then did further research on neem through the University of Florida.

Initially Nick was interested in neem for its timber, thinking it could be beneficial to boat and home builders as neem is termite and worm resistant but as he learned about the tree's health benefits his vision became more personal and altruistic. He became attracted to the plant's ability to help control high blood pressure and diabetes, two diseases common in his family and prevalent in the Bahamas.

Importing 8,000 seeds from Pakistan was the next step in making the Abaco Neem dream reality but Nick had little experience in farming as he was in the clothing business at that time, owning a very successful business. So he approached long-time Abaco farmer Albert Albury who was 79 years old at that time, asking for advice and instruction on how to work the land. At the time, Mr. Albury had little interest. He was 79 years old, had recently lost his wife of 50 years, and doubted he would live long enough to see any neem trees bear fruit. He also had painful debilitating arthritis. But when he gave Mr. Albury a young neem plant and encouraged him to take capsulated neem leaf for his arthritis, his attitude changed.

Mr. Albury began teaching Nick about farming on Abaco and the 8,000 seeds were started in a nursery. In February of 1994, 120 acres of land near Casuarina Point, 13 miles south of Marsh Harbour, was acquired to establish the Abaco Neem farm. At that time there were 7500 trees and of the original 8,000, only 10% survived. Today there are 6,500 Neem trees on the Abaco Neem farm.

Abaco Neem produces a range of products for the body, alternative preventative medicinal products, as well as home and garden and pet products. All of these are produced using our own organically grown neem, with our commitment to quality and environmentally friendly farming practices.

Neem is a member of the mahogany family, Meliaceae, and is known by the botanical name Azadirachta indica. It is native to east India and Burma, grows in much of Southeast Asia and West Africa, and is also grown in in the Caribbean and Central America.

Neem trees can grow 50-90 ft depending on the strain but at Abaco Neem we prune our trees so they can be harvested by hand. Neem flowers are small white blossoms that have a fragrance similar to Jasmine. Neem bears fruit within 3-5 years and the fruit is about the size of an olive with the seed encased in a sweet pulp-like texture. Seeds are very bitter and from them we extract our oil. Neem trees are tropical evergreens that do not like cold temperatures and wet roots. They thrive better in well drained soil (requiring just a minimum of 18 inches of rain annually) and heat, even withstanding temperatures to 120 degrees F.  

In general trees are not intended to grow in pots, but neem trees can be grown and maintained in large pots. Large pots are needed so the root system can grow; otherwise, the tree's growth will be stunted in size to the proportion of the root system. Though neem is an evergreen, the trees often lose their leaves after a very dry spell or cold period. The tree will revive itself after these extreme periods have passed with regular watering or when it warms up again. If the leaves turn yellow, usually it is a sign of over-watering, or over fertilizing.

The neem trees on the Abaco Neem farm contribute to our ecosystem by providing a natural habitat for a variety of birds and small animals. Also the fruit and flowers provide food for birds, bats, ducks, lizards and other small animals like butterflies and bees. These are few of many of the natural wonders that coexist together and add to the peaceful environment on the farm.

Neem, called the "village pharmacy", has been used in India for over 4,000 years and is known for its wide range of medicinal uses. All parts of the tree roots, bark, gum, leaves, flowers, fruit, seed kernels, and seed oil are used in products for human or pet health, home and garden or agriculture.

All parts of the tree contain compounds with proven antiseptic, immune-stimulating, anti-viral, antibacterial, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, anti-ulcer, anti-anxiety, analgesic, anti-tumor, antimicrobial, anthelmintic and antifungal uses. These characteristics illustrate why neem is grabbing the attention of researchers today, and why it has been used successfully for thousands of years.

The main chemical that gives neem its active properties is azadirachtin-unique to the neem tree-but there are many other beneficial compounds that have been studied, including meliantriol, quercetin, salannin, nimbidiol, nimbin and nimbidin.

Today more people are discovering neem and its healing properties.

Here are some of the ways neem has been used: (information in table provided from: Neem the Miraculous Herb by Brian Keating)
(information in table provided from: Neem the Miraculous Herb by Brian Keating)