Forest gardens are clearing that have been cultivated to produce more of the forest plants that are edible by humans, and make it easier to get a subsistence living out of a forest environment. No Forest Gardener is ever going to be wealthy; however, they can build something from scratch and make an independent living.

Destitute and Poor Standard of Living LINK

Starting with a forest or woodland clearing, transplant native berry, nut and other fruit bearing bushes from the local woods and ed into the borders, to create a hedge that both marks the property out and supplies some of the food the Gardener needs to survive. The central area is cleared and used for more conventional crops (perhaps Peas, Beans and Onions). Outside the hedge, other edible woodland plants, such as Sweet Violet and Lignan Sorrel, are encouraged. While that won’t keep a family through the year, it will go some way to provide minimum rations. Get chickens to keep down pests and give eggs as protein, get a hive of bees to make you honey and pollinate and it starts looking better. A shack, or two, for accommodation. The clearing just needs to be found, and both types of building can be constructed by hand, with minimal building skills and cost. If you are prepared to put the effort in, it is free.

Now scout the area around your garden, and find all the radish patches, wild garlic beds, nut trees, chestnut trees, oak trees and other useful resources. If you can, transplant some closer to home, but don’t deplete the originals. DC10 survival gets you supplements for your diet. It also lets you spot the oak trees – oak galls can be sold for cash (they are used to make ink), acorns need some work (you must leach the Tannins) but can be ground and used to thicken soups and stews or even to add to flour when you are making bread. That same DC10 survival check might also get you a rabbit, or some other small game.

Craft is another skill that you can use untrained. OK, you can only make the simplest things, and they won’t work every time – but here are some simple craft skills (They have an end product) that you can make reasonably consistently. Honey and Berries, and a sour-dough starter, lets you make a simple (if weak) country wine. (you only actually need the honey to keep the starter going). Pickle some fruit in it, and you have dessert that will store for a while and supply a glass of wine for afters - Just right for midwinter. Salt, and perhaps the sourdough starter, will let you to ‘ferment’ leaves - think Kimchi or Sauerkraut style – into a condiment that will last the winter. Then there is the Acorn flour along with the more conventional vegetables (which all crop in autumn, and then store over winter) which makes the whole project feasible.

A family of Forest Gardeners should be able to hit the Poor Standard of living, so long as they use regular Survival rolls to add to foraged food to their diet, and Craft rolls for food preservation and the production of minor trade goods.

Destitute (0 gp/month): The PC is homeless and lives in the wilderness or on the streets. A destitute character must track every purchase, and may need to resort to Survival checks or theft to feed himself.

Poor (3 gp/month): The PC lives in common rooms of taverns, with his parents, or in some other communal situation—this is the lifestyle of most untrained laborers and commoners. He need not track purchases of meals or taxes that cost 1 sp or less.

Living standards, especially to start with are going to be very low, perhaps three or four people on a 10×10 shack. (I’ve slept 3 large adults in a 10×10 tent, with enough space for all our camping gear, so not impossible) Food, clothes shoes etc will be basic, but sufficient live through. As more elements are added to the garden, More shacks built and the family become slightly more skilled, things ease off and they should be able to hit ‘Poor’ fairly easily.