She Can Hold Her Own

She Can Hold Her Own by Jess Kimball is a compelling blend of personal reflection, photography, and powerful interviews that illuminate the lives of female homesteaders in the Southern Appalachian Mountains. Through striking images and intimate conversations, the book showcases the strength, resilience, and wisdom of the women who have shaped this rugged landscape for generations. Jess weaves together stories of self-sufficiency, community, and the deep connection these women share with the land, offering a glimpse into their daily lives of growing food, raising livestock, and preserving the traditions that sustain them. She Can Hold Her Own celebrates these women as the backbone of their families and the soul of Appalachia. This book is a tribute to the enduring spirit of those who live in harmony with the land and to the power of women who continue to thrive against the odds.

Completed Sessions...read the full chapter for each homesteader in She Can Hold Her Own
​(on shelves mid 2026)

Carley​, Ashe County NC

Carley’s day starts early, tending to her dairy cow, Clover, before heading to her varied jobs: nurse, doula, and holistic health advocate. With a background in both traditional and alternative medicine, she bridges these worlds, bringing insights from both to her patients and community. Carley’s homesteading journey began with an eagerness to learn, taking on a cow despite minimal experience. Her bond with Clover has deepened through shared patience and understanding, leading to a fulfilling routine. Carley’s holistic approach extends to her food, sourcing locally and sustainably, which fuels her physical and emotional well-being. She co-founded a local co-op, “Jeat Yet?”, to connect the community with wholesome food. Carley’s life is a blend of hard work, health, and caring for both people and animals, with a focus on balance and sustainability.

Laura, Ashe County NC​

Laura’s homesteading life in Lansing, North Carolina, reflects her deep connection to family, nature, and community. On her 60-acre property, she cares for animals, maintains a garden, and homeschools her children. A talented florist, her arrangements are a local favorite. While her husband works up north, Laura manages the homestead with growing help from her kids. She fosters community through potlucks and sharing knowledge, and gardening has been a healing practice for her. Laura values patience in the slow, rewarding process of homesteading, and her generosity extends to supporting local businesses and sharing homemade goods.

Hunter, Bradley County TN

Hunter’s life on the homestead is a dynamic balance of responsibilities, growth, and sustainability, shaped by her artistic background and deep-rooted farming heritage. A seventh-generation farmer, she and her husband left suburban life in 2020 in search of self-sufficiency, eventually settling on 17 acres near Chattanooga. Their journey involved extensive renovations, careful planning, and a commitment to regenerative farming, leading to the creation of Gentry Homestead. While raising her children with a hands-on education approach, Hunter manages the farm’s operations, integrates sustainable practices, and reinvests all earnings into its growth. She has built a strong business presence through branding, social media, and community engagement at farmers markets and co-ops. Her husband, a software company CEO, supports structuring the farm as a viable long-term investment, blending their agricultural passions with financial sustainability. With a focus on generational wealth, they view the farm as more than just a business—it’s a legacy that nurtures their family, supports the local community, and fosters a spiritual connection to the land.

Elizabeth, Moore County TN

​Elizabeth and her family live on a 10-acre homestead in Moore County, Tennessee, where they raise their own meat, maintain a garden, and care for a variety of animals, including chickens, ducks, cows, and pigs. They started their homesteading journey in 2020, driven by a long-held dream of self-sufficiency. While neither Elizabeth nor her husband had farming backgrounds, they learned through research, particularly focusing on rotational grazing and animal care. The family produces most of their own food, including 95% of their meat, and they involve their four children in daily tasks. Elizabeth enjoys the calming routine of milking and cherishes the hands-on, family-centered lifestyle, which has brought them closer together and allowed their children to thrive in an environment that values learning and sustainability.

Laura, ​Sevier County TN

​Laura's homestead is a deeply faith-driven, sustainable lifestyle focused on stewardship and self-sufficiency, where she and her family care for the land and animals with gratitude and respect. Located in a rural-ish area, Laura practices organic gardening, raises meat rabbits, grows a variety of vegetables, and manages livestock, all while prioritizing a community-oriented mindset over complete self-sufficiency. Through workshops, she shares her knowledge with others, teaching everything from raising rabbits to processing them humanely. Laura's daughter, Maybelle especially enjoys helping Laura tend to the animals and has her own pet bunny, Miss Muffet! Her homestead is a space where faith, family, hard work, and a love for animals come together to create a meaningful and fulfilling way of life. 

Katelyn, Montgomery County VA

Katelyn and her husband have transformed a 76-acre property in Blacksburg, Virginia into a thriving homestead, raising cows, chickens, and pigs while growing much of their own food. With two young children and a third on the way, they practice rotational grazing and free-range chicken raising, processing their own meat and aiming to be as self-sufficient as possible. Coming from families with agricultural backgrounds, they've created a lifestyle that allows Katelyn to stay home and manage the farm while her husband works as a physical therapist. Their approach focuses on sustainable practices, breaking even on expenses, and providing high-quality, ethically raised food for their family, all while teaching their children the value of hard work and connection to the land.

Melanie, Ashe County NC

In a quiet holler in Ashe County, North Carolina, Melanie’s 20-acre homestead is a blend of rustic charm and modern homesteading. Chickens, rabbits, and a turkeys provide Melanie‘s household with food year-round. The chickens roam under the watchful eye of Otis, the livestock guardian. A thriving garden, fruit trees, and berry bushes fill the landscape, nurtured by Melanie and her partner, who work together to keep the rhythm of the land balanced. The property has a wonderful view of the Blue Ridge Mountains, making it hard not to want to spend all your time outside. In fact, Melanie spends a lot of her time in nature. She even collects bugs and creates incredible framed artwork. Inside the house, a clever apothecary shelf in the kitchen swings open to reveal a hidden laundry room, adding a touch of magic to the practical.

Amie, Ashe County NC

​Amie’s homestead in Western North Carolina reflects her and her husband's shift from global careers to a simpler, self-sufficient life. Embracing the rhythm of homesteading, they grow their own food, raise animals, and repurpose materials to build a sustainable life. Amie, with her optimism and resilience, finds joy in the tasks of daily life, from tending crops to caring for animals. Despite challenges like impassable winter roads or close quarters during the pandemic, their lifestyle is grounded in intention, patience, and a deep connection to the land, where every task serves a purpose and brings fulfillment.

Tara, Watauga County NC

Tara’s homesteading journey started from a dissatisfaction with modern life, especially the beauty industry, leading her to seek a simpler, nature-based lifestyle for her family. She began small, with a garden in a temporary rental, and eventually committed to self-reliance, sustainability, and spiritual fulfillment. After leaving a toxic salon,  Tara started her own business giving her the flexibility needed to homeschool her children and focus on homesteading. Raising animals, growing food, and teaching her children life skills became key parts of her life, while challenges fostered resilience. Tara also embraced herbal medicine and bartering for services, building a supportive community and making homesteading even more economical for her family. Her life now blends faith, family, and a deep connection to the land, as she continues to teach her children the values of simplicity and self-sufficiency.

Mandy, Cheatham County TN

Mandy’s homesteading journey is rooted in the belief that anyone can grow their own food, regardless of space, as long as they use available resources wisely and plan strategically. After transitioning from large-scale farming to a smaller homestead, Mandy has focused on cultivating a diverse range of crops and raising animals like chickens, pigs, and bees, with a strong emphasis on sustainability and health. She avoids chemicals, relying on natural methods like crop rotation and organic treatments. Over time, she has expanded her operations, adding greenhouses, selling products at farmers' markets, and even producing her own CBD products. Despite working full-time, Mandy dedicates a significant amount of time to her farm, balancing daily chores and larger projects, especially on weekends. Her goal is to make the farm sustainable for both food and income, with a focus on quality and community engagement.

Rachel, Hanover County VA

Rachel and her family transitioned from suburban life in Northern Virginia to a ten-acre homestead in Hanover County, Virginia, embracing a lifestyle centered on self-sufficiency. What began with chickens soon expanded into gardening, solar energy, and sourcing local food, all while balancing full-time office jobs. Though her husband’s National Guard duties limit their livestock to poultry for now, they envision adding goats in the future. Their homesteading journey accelerated during COVID-19, reinforcing their desire for self-reliance. Rachel, who grew up in a city, has found unexpected fulfillment in growing food, baking sourdough, and involving her children in the outdoors, proving that homesteading can be both flexible and rewarding.

Rachel, Lincoln ​County KY

Rachel and her husband started their homestead in Kentucky's Appalachian region after her husband's health dramatically improved through farm-fresh, traditional foods following a challenging bone marrow donation experience. On their eight-and-a-half-acre Whoopsy Daisy Farm, they raise dairy sheep, cows, chickens, quail, and geese, producing all their own meat, dairy, and eggs while processing wool into clothing and other products. Driven by a desire for food sovereignty and health, they've built a resilient farming system that adapts to their clay-heavy terrain and seasonal challenges, embracing a lifestyle that prioritizes community support, mutual respect, and a deep connection to the land. Despite initial skepticism from family and friends, Rachel has found empowerment in homesteading, challenging stereotypes about women in agriculture and demonstrating the profound skills and independence required to successfully manage a diverse, self-sustaining farm. Rachel also recognizes the importance of community and a common theme in her story is that you cannot homestead alone, you need people that will show up ready to help when life inevitably happens. ​

Carolyn, Lincoln County KY

Carolyn is a homesteader from Lincoln County, Kentucky, who grew up on a family farm in Southern Illinois, raising cattle, hogs, and sheep. After initially pursuing education and briefly living in California, she returned to Kentucky, where she met her husband, who shares her agricultural background. Together, they are raising two children n their farm, committed to producing their own food and teaching their children responsibility and compassion through caring for animals and land. Deeply rooted in her Christian faith, Carolyn has transformed her life through her spiritual journey, overcoming postpartum depression and finding strength in her church community. She is passionate about slow living, connecting with nature, and raising her children with values of hard work, gratitude, and understanding that life isn't always perfect. Carolyn believes in the importance of homesteading not just as a lifestyle, but as a way to teach important life lessons and maintain a closer connection to the earth and community.

Aimee, Ashe County NC

Aimee's homesteading journey began in November 2021 when she and her family moved to a 118-acre property, leaving behind her nearly 30-year corporate career. Motivated by a desire to provide a different lifestyle for her children, she transitioned from a structured urban environment to a dynamic rural setting. With her grandfather's farming wisdom as inspiration, Aimee has been gradually building her homestead, learning patience and embracing the reality that creating a self-sufficient life is a long-term process. She's cultivated gardens, raised animals like chickens and goats, and found meaningful remote work that allows her to be present on the property. Despite initial Pinterest-inspired expectations, Aimee has discovered the true joy of creating, connecting with the land, and teaching her children self-sufficiency, viewing their homestead as a legacy of independence, sustainability, and love for the earth.

Lauren​, Ashe County NC

For Lauren, homesteading is a communal practice that connects her family, their values, and their community. After leaving suburban New Jersey, she and her husband sought a life of self-sufficiency and a deeper connection to nature, eventually settling in Ashe County, North Carolina. Their homestead is a space where each family member, including their two teenage children, plays an essential role in raising animals and growing food. Through hands-on, flexible homeschooling, the children learn valuable life skills like animal care, cooking, and woodworking. Teamwork is central to their household, and tools like a sawmill and tractor help the family thrive. Lauren is dedicated to building strong community bonds by organizing events and offering support to neighbors. Her example shows that homesteading is not just about farming, but about creating a life rooted in connection, creativity, and shared responsibility.

Kendall, Watauga County NC

Kendall’s life is a blend of passion, purpose, and self-sufficiency, rooted in family, homesteading, and her dedication to women’s health. She and her husband, Matt, manage a thriving farm filled with chickens, pigs, turkeys, and cows, alongside a flourishing garden that sustains their household. Beyond farm life, Kendall is deeply committed to empowering women through fitness, nutrition, and postpartum care, drawing from her own experiences as a mother. She recently authored a prenatal exercise book and continues to advocate for maternal well-being. Balancing motherhood, business, and homesteading, she embraces both the challenges and joys of a life built on resilience, tradition, and community.

Angela, Lewis County TN

Angela grew up in a homesteading family, learning self-sufficiency from her parents through skills like canning, baking, and animal care. After a brief break from farm life when she married, she and her husband reintroduced homesteading to provide their children with the same rich upbringing. Now a stay-at-home mom, she homeschools their children while managing the family’s extensive homestead, which includes dairy cows, chickens, a large garden, and home-raised meat. Her husband, a former Amish barn builder, now runs a home-building business and applies his skills to improve their farm. The family values fresh, homegrown food, cherishing seasonal produce like tomatoes and squash. Angela finds deep fulfillment in their rural life, from peaceful mornings milking cows to watching her children learn from nature. Despite the hard work, she sees homesteading as a rewarding legacy to pass down, emphasizing resilience, community, and the simple joys of living off the land.

Amber, ​Garrard County KY

Amber’s homesteading journey began in 2016 when she started raising chickens and quickly expanded to goats, cows, and more, all while homeschooling her three children. What began as a way to save money and feed her family evolved into a deep commitment to self-sufficiency, health, and sustainability. Along the way, Amber faced personal health challenges, including a battle with Lyme disease, which led her to explore holistic healing, whole foods, and herbalism. Her family’s shift to an off-grid farm in 2021 marked a new chapter, with Amber continuing to juggle farm work, family life, and the everyday chaos of running a homestead. Her story is one of resilience, empowerment, and a commitment to living a grounded, purposeful life in harmony with nature.

Meghann, Hickman County TN

Meghann’s homestead in Hickman County, Tennessee, is a testament to resilience, faith, and community. After relocating from Las Vegas in 2021, she and her family faced significant challenges, including a devastating flood that destroyed their first property. Undeterred, they expanded to a 22-acre homestead, where they raise animals, grow food, and cultivate a sustainable life. Meghann has found strength and purpose in homesteading, learning the value of community, patience, and God’s provision. As she navigates the demands of farming and family life, she also follows a calling as a doula, helping others experience empowered births. Through it all, Meghann’s journey reflects the beauty of trusting in God’s timing and building a life of purpose, growth, and connection.

Jess, Ashe County NC

​My journey in Ashe County, North Carolina, is rooted in the rhythms of homesteading and a deep connection to the land. After years of traveling and working as a birthworker and photographer, I settled here to embrace a more sustainable, self-sufficient life. I tend to animals, maintain a garden, and upcycle vintage quilts into unique, handcrafted pieces through my business, Remade in the Holler. My work is deeply personal, linking me to my ancestors, many of whom understood the value of repurposing and resourcefulness. Each day, I feel rooted in a legacy of hard work and creativity, striving to live a life that honors both the land and my family’s heritage.

Jenna, Giles County VA

Jenna and her family operate a 136-acre homestead in Virginia, where they produce approximately 75% of their own food. With nine children ranging from 22 to 1.5 years old, they raise grass-fed beef cattle, Jersey milk cows, Kinder goats, pigs, and chickens. Their homesteading approach integrates education, with children learning practical skills through hands-on farm work rather than traditional classroom methods. Jenna emphasizes cultivating her children's hearts, connecting them to nature, and teaching them about food production and the cycle of life. They mill their own wheat, preserve food through canning and dehydrating, and aim to be as self-sufficient as possible. Each family member has unique interests, from flower cultivation to knife-making, but they work together as a team to maintain their farm. Their motivation stems from a desire to eat healthily, live naturally, and create a meaningful, intentional lifestyle that goes beyond modern society's convenience-driven culture. Faith plays an important role in their homestead, creating the foundation for all that they do.