I'm writing a story with an old lady who's husband and children are all dead or presumed dead, living in a world based roughly off of the 14-1700's (pre industrial), and has not remarried (though she later does find a new love in the story to support her).
How would she survive? The character is not supposed to be exceptionally well off, in fact she is just getting by, but she is not extremely malnourished or anything.
Would she get any support from her town? Or would they more likely consider her to be suspicious and possibly a witch? Say she lived in a climate similar to northern Germany. She produces some kind of resource on a small farm or garden and sells the product in the local market so she can buy food and clothes. What would be a likely crop or resource that could be grown in this climate, by a 60 year old lady, that could completely support one person's income? Suppose she did not have to pay taxes, as this government does not tax those over a certain age or perhaps does not tax females.
This doesn't need to be super accurate but just throw some ideas at me! I want something generally believale at least (so no tomato or cotton farming)
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