Donation to the Crowley Museum from the Women’s Fund

MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — A Bay area nature center has received a generous donation from the Women’s Fund of the Florida Farm Bureau.

The Women’s Fund aims to uplift the community while prioritizing support for women and children.

Dixie Resnick, the CEO of the Crowley Museum and Nature Center, brings her expertise in wildlife biology and conservation to the center, fostering a love for nature.

“This is a loofa sponge,” she explained, gesturing to a plant in the syntropic agroforestry garden that serves as a vibrant learning space for children.

Resnick emphasizes sustainable practices, stating, “There are no pesticides needed when you let things rot back into the earth. You don’t need artificial fertilizer.”

With a recent donation of $2,000 from the Women’s Fund, the center is poised to enhance its educational offerings. “The funds will be utilized for garden improvements,” Resnick detailed, noting the need for barriers to protect against animals, increasing plant diversity, and necessary tools and irrigation. “We’ll also be able to purchase new gates and latches. Though we generally propagate our plants, increasing diversity is equally critical.”

The garden was integrated into the museum’s educational curriculum in 2024, yet this marks the first full learning season after undergoing repairs from last year’s hurricanes.

“We want every child to experience every part of our learning program,” she said passionately. “I am particularly eager to engage the public, especially students, to understand where their food comes from.”

The center hosts hundreds of field trips annually, with hopes of increasing that number. Resnick adds, “They touch everything, they smell everything, they dig in the dirt, and they interact with the animals. This fosters a sense of connection, which ignites a desire for deeper exploration. By nurturing this connection, we ensure a legacy of environmental stewardship.”

Dixie’s garden is thriving—more plants translate to expansive educational prospects for local students.

The Crowley Museum and Nature Center plans to allocate the donation funds after hurricane season and is actively seeking grants to enhance further educational initiatives. Supporters can contribute to the center’s mission via a donation link here.