Rachel Higgins: Construction Supervisor
they/all/any pronouns
Rachel is a builder, artist, and organizer frequently known to be wearing too many hats. Rachel came to Watershed Progressive after several years living at Quail Springs, a rural permaculture teaching site and environmental non-profit. There they served as Director of Infrastructure and Facilities, managing and educating about the off-grid water systems, advocating for water justice, and maintaining the tools, solar-electric and natural buildings that support the small off-grid farm and community.
Rachel finds empowerment through hands-on building and has been immersed in creative building trades for over 20 years. They have lived on occupied native land in cities known as Los Angeles, Birmingham, New York City, as well as rural collectives in New Mexico and the California Cuyama Valley. They worked, on and under-ground, as the Project Coordinator at Greywater Corps, designing and installing residential greywater and rainwater systems all over Los Angeles. They have also worked as a carpenter, custom fabricator, arts educator, set builder, prop master, studio manager, art handler, and have collaboratively designed & built residential decks, cabins, a timber-framed studio, outdoor showers and bath systems. In their artwork, Rachel uses salvaged construction materials to create sculpture, performance, and participatory events which re-imagine social space.
Rachel aims to help make the pursuit for social and environmental justice on this planet more do-able. At Watershed Progressive Rachel is thrilled to be facilitating more boots-on-the ground projects to protect Ventura County Watersheds, and to advocate for water equity in California and beyond.