Jess Kimball will be here to discuss her new book, She Can Hold Her Own. Self-sufficiency and pace of life are among the things that distinguish Southern Appalachian female homesteaders from others in society. Through portraits and interviews, this book presents the experiences of women who are raising families, caring for animals, and sustaining households through practical knowledge, skill, and faith. Their narratives reflect lives shaped not only by physical labor, but by simplicity and deep connections to land and legacy. Combining documentary photography with extended, conversational interviews, the book offers a portrait of rural womanhood that is rooted in ancestral knowledge while also responding to present-day realities. It focuses on the spiritual and emotional dimensions of homesteading, situating these women within broader discussion of resilience, community, and choice. Rather than presenting a guide for rural lifestyles, the work serves as a study of the relationships between womanhood, labor, identity, and landscape.

Jess Kimball is a birthworker, writer, and artist whose work honors women’s stories, health, and ancestral knowledge. She lives on a small homestead in rural North Carolina, where her experiences as a doula and her deep connection to land and community inspire her writing.