Dr. Rachael E. Bonoan- Nutritional Ecologist
Dr. Rachael Bonoan is an Assistant Professor of Biology at Providence College, where she teaches in the Environmental Biology major and leads the Bonoan (aka Providence Pollinator) Lab. The Providence Pollinator lab focuses on insect pollinators, which get most of their nutrients by collecting protein-rich pollen and sugary nectar from flowers. Hailing from Tiverton, RI, she is grateful to be studying insect pollinator nutrition and behavior in her home state.
Rachael and her students have surveyed insect pollinator diversity on Westerly Land Trust properties using bee hotels, bee bowls, and field observations. These data are part of the Providence Pollinator Lab’s reference collection of RI insect pollinators, with a focus on bees. Students in the Providence Pollinator Lab are also investigating which flowering plant species are most visited by bees, and the nutritional content of those flowers. Taken together, these data can be used to inform native pollinator-friendly plantings on Westerly Land Trust properties and beyond. Preliminary data show that if you want to plant for pollinators, dense blazing star (Liatris spicata) is a pollinator magnet, that is also nutritious!
Outside of research and teaching, Rachael is co-founder of the Tufts Pollinator Initiative and founding member/past president of the Boston Area Beekeepers Association. She is passionate about sharing her research with diverse audiences and engaging children in science through encouraging curiosity, which is the topic of her TEDx talk and children’s eBook, Dress Like a Scientist Day.
RELEVANT LINKS:
- https://providencepollinators.com/
- https://sites.tufts.edu/pollinators/
- https://dresslikeascientistday.com/
- https://youtu.be/KsA8V-yooFA
- Photo collection of pollinators
To learn more about the scientists & stewards on our land click HERE.
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What’s better on a hot day than escaping the office for oysters, boats, and beer? 🦪☀️
On Wednesday, WLT hosted 70+ team members from our generous Corporate Sponsor, ParsonsKellogg of Providence, for a special field trip to Winnapaug Farm Preserve. The visit gave them a firsthand look at how their support makes a real difference in Westerly.
To show our appreciation, we arranged boat tours of the Watch Hill Oysters farm, followed by fresh oyster sampling and cold Grey Sail brews.🍻🌊
Huge thanks to Grey Sail Brewing of RI for the refreshing beers, to Watch Hill Oysters for the scenic tours and delicious oysters, and of course, to ParsonsKellogg for championing land conservation in Westerly. 💚
#conservation #oysters #rhodeisland #westerlyri #parsonskellogg #saltmarsh #saltpond #winnapaugpond #watchhill
Congratulations to our favorite brewery around, Grey Sail Brewing of RI, for being Rhode Island’s first brewery recognized by Better Bev for outstanding environmental practices! 🌱🎉
Through their partnership with RIDEM’s Green Breweries Program, Grey Sail is reducing their environmental impact by installing solar panels, investing in carbon capture, donating spent grain to local farms, and more. Sustainability never tasted so good!
Additionally, we are proud to call Grey Sail a longtime partner and friend. They have supported WLT’s work as a Corporate Sponsor since 2018, and have donated many tasty, cold beverages for events like the Farm Dinner, President’s Circle Reception, and Crews and Brews. 🍻
Thanks, Grey Sail, for leading the way in both sustainability and community support! 💚
#sustainability #sustainable #ecofriendly #conservation #community #nature #brewery #greysailbrewing
🌊🌊🌊 CCC by the sea, sea, sea! Today we tipped our caps to our dedicated team of volunteers who have been working since September to steward WLT land. Many thanks to all our volunteers, to Dave Prigmore for hosting by the sea, and to the mowing crew who will be going strong all summer long.
CCSee you next fall!! 👋
#westerlyri #rhodeisland #summer #stewardship #volunteers #community #beach #thankyou
🌳Last Thursday, we hosted our first event at Champlin Farm Preserve. Our President’s Circle reception honored our closest supporters and celebrated this recently-protected 90-acre property. Many thanks to Grey Sail Brewing of RI for donating cold beverages on this warm night. 🥂
🥾Since October 2024, WLT staff and volunteers (the CCC) have been working hard to blaze trails and create a parking area at the entrance of Champlin Farm Preserve. Please check it out! It is quite a special place. (64 Boombridge Road in Westerly)
The Westerly Land Trust would like to sincerely thank all the donors who help conserve and steward more than 1,800 acres of open space in Westerly. 💚
#landconservation #conserve #protect #stewardship #steward #westerlyri #community #rhodeisland #nature
🌞Kick off summer with WLT and @barre_coast today!!
Join us for Summer Solstice Yoga at Winnapaug Farm Preserve at 6pm. 🌳WLT members, email [email protected] for a ✨reduced price✨registration of $10 per class.
Scroll to the next picture to view the full BarreCoast summer series out on the land!🧘♀️
#yoga #outside #nature #meditate #summer #summersolstice
June 15th is Nature Photography Day—a time to celebrate nature through photography and highlight its role in conservation.
! Have you taken any pictures on WLT properties??
‼️Enter the Westerly Land Trust Photo Contest ‼️
We want to see WLT land through your eyes (and lens)! Snap shots of trails, plants, animals and landscapes, and send them to Erika at [email protected] by October 6th for a chance to be featured in our 2026 WLT calendar! 🌳🌸
#rhodeisland #westerlyri #Nature #NaturePhotography #NatureLovers #NatureGram #EarthFocus #OurPlanetDaily #MotherNature #WildernessCulture
Our friends at Tractor Supply in Pawcatuck went above and beyond, donating loads of garden supplies, including seeds and seedlings, for our upcoming summer sessions of Farm Squad! 🥗
In just a few weeks we’ll kick off this program at Barlow Nature Preserve. Here, Westerly’s K-4th graders will learn through first-hand experience how seeds grow into vegetables, along with lots of other lessons of farm life.
Thank you, @tractorsupply , for supporting local environmental and agricultural education! 🚜
#community #donation #gardening #childrensgarden #summer #nature #grow #vegetables
Barlow’s Farm Stand Opening Saturday, June 14!!
🥗Visit the farm stand at Barlow Nature Preserve (449 Westerly-Bradford Rd) for opening day on Saturday, June 14 from 12pm-4pm. The farm stand is operated by the two farms on the property: Frontier Farm and Echo Rock Flowers. Through out the summer, they’ll also have on hand Ever-Breeze Farm’s eggs and WesterBee’s honey. Their regular summer schedule will begin on Thursday, June 19:
Shoppable Hours:
Thursdays, 3-6pm
Fridays, 3-6pm
New in 2025: Saturdays, 12-4pm
#farmstand #farm #organicfarmers #organicfarming #organic #vegetables
