Small, isolated village near a mountain. What do the people there do for a living?

[Panda]

My story was initially going to start out in a small, rural village consisting mostly of farmers. It recently occurred to me that this might be a bad idea: not only is it cliche, but it might not be feasible given the village's proximity to a mountain. (The mountain is important to the plot, so I can't change the location of the village.) I'm guessing the ground might be too rocky for farms, and there might not be enough sunlight for crops to grow. The mountain is part of a range on the western edge of the kingdom's border, so the village would be in its shadow for part of the afternoon. (This isn't important to the plot, but I don't want to change my mental image of the kingdom's map.)

So what sort of occupations might this village revolve around? Mining? Quarrying? Goat-herding? Keep in mind the village is small and, while I'm sure they export something to the larger cities, there isn't a steady stream of trade going on. (The relative isolation is also important to the plot.) The area is also heavily forested; could hunting or lumber be a source of income?

 

[Jabrosky]

Volcanic soil is actually famous for its fertility, so the slopes of a volcano would work fine if the farmers terraced it. They might even cling to it if the lowland areas are less fertile than the volcanic slopes (this is common in tropical regions with heavy rainfall).

 

[Panda]

Cool, that might work. Would it make sense for a volcano to be in a mountain range, though? I thought they were usually on islands.

 

[Jabrosky]

Cool, that might work. Would it make sense for a volcano to be in a mountain range, though? I thought they were usually on islands.

On the contrary, volcanoes do form mountain ranges within continents. You can find them near tectonic subduction zones (the Andes in South America) or continental rifts (the Rift Valley in East Africa).

 

[Nimue]

Goat herding and sheep herding will definitely keep folks alive (and clothed). Even if the soil isn't ideal for large-scale agriculture, you'll still probably be able to get some subsistence farming done. There could certainly be mining going on, copper, tin, and iron being the main suspects, but you'd have to do some research on mining techniques (or lack thereof) in the historical time period you're writing in the vicinity of.

But what kind of a mountain is this? It'd be good to know if it is a volcano, but is it extremely rocky and snow-capped, like all those grand epic fantasy mountains seem to be? Or is it a bit softer, with more soil cover and vegetation up its slopes? I might suggest that this be a village in a valley, which is a more probable location for settlement, especially if there's a river fed by snowmelt--and you get better sediment, and thus arable land, that way. Adds fishing to your list of occupations, as well.

 

[CupofJoe]

There is also Charcoal making if you wanted something to trade. The sides of mountains are often wooded and if unsuitable for terracing [and farming] would produce lots of wood.
And on a small scale Gold Panning... keep the finds small so no-one gets the idea to strip mine the area and your locals could be laying out sheep and goat fleeces in every stream to collect the grains.
Both of these are not jobs that would run all year but could be useful alternatives/additions to farming.

 

[ThinkerX]

Obvious suggestion: current or former mining town, or a base for prospectors hoping to strike it rich

 

[K.S. Crooks]

There can still be farming at the base of a mountain or in a valley between mountains. Mining is obvious as you said. If you use this then make it an unusual. The villagers could also works as guides through the different mountain passes, transporters of goods to different locations, with the mining perhaps they are expert metal workers for swords and other items. Hope this sparks a few ideas.

 

[Saigonnus]

I would think life would revolve around most of what was already mentioned above. You'd probably have miners, sheepherders, lumberjacks, hunters. With mining likewise you would have smithing. With lumber you have carpentry, scrimshaw, carving and of course making spears, bows, arrows.

Hope this helps.

 

[Butterfly]

I would add, with it being a mountain range there will undoubtedly be watercourses, lakes, waterfalls and rivers. Might be the ideal place to build some mills, lumber mills, paper mills, corn mills... and fisheries.

There would also undoubtedly be some sort of trading post in the vicinity, maybe one or two days away. Otherwise they wouldn't be able to do anything with their surplus harvest.

Also look at Hill farming

 

[AndrewMelvin]

Crafters, maybe, who use the knowledge gained over generations to turn volcanic rock into unique items/weapons or magic ingredients.

 

[phantommuseums]

I love the idea that this village is in the shadow of this mountain for part of the afternoon.

I don't think it's cliche at all: you see this type of village all over Peru and Ecuador. There's a lot of llama herding, and from this comes elaborate weaving. Even the children have teddy bears made of the softest llama wool you could imagine.

Also, a lot of mountainous areas are prime growing areas for the plants found in teas. This happens all over the world, Japan, Peru, and the Himalayas.

 

[Panda]

Thanks, everyone.

I love the idea that this village is in the shadow of this mountain for part of the afternoon.

I actually got the idea when I saw something a while ago about a town in Europe that had to build a giant mirror so they'd have sunlight. The lack of sunlight isn't relevant to my story's plot, but I like the imagery. I think it adds to the feeling of isolation. Although part of me suddenly wants to write a completely different story too now: What if there were a mountain that was literally an enormous sundial?

Goat herding and sheep herding will definitely keep folks alive (and clothed). Even if the soil isn't ideal for large-scale agriculture, you'll still probably be able to get some subsistence farming done. There could certainly be mining going on, copper, tin, and iron being the main suspects, but you'd have to do some research on mining techniques (or lack thereof) in the historical time period you're writing in the vicinity of.

Cool. If the villagers can feed and clothe themselves without relying on frequent trade with outsiders, that works out better for me.

I will definitely do some mining research as well. I have a character who was supposed to be an escaped galley slave, but geographically it might make sense for him to have been forced to work in a mine instead.

But what kind of a mountain is this? It'd be good to know if it is a volcano, but is it extremely rocky and snow-capped, like all those grand epic fantasy mountains seem to be? Or is it a bit softer, with more soil cover and vegetation up its slopes? I might suggest that this be a village in a valley, which is a more probable location for settlement, especially if there's a river fed by snowmelt--and you get better sediment, and thus arable land, that way. Adds fishing to your list of occupations, as well.

It's your standard epic fantasy mountain, although I'm not averse to changing it to something less cliche. I like the idea of the village being in a valley, with fishing and farming; I will steal that idea from you.

 

[Terry Greer]

Collecting something (e.g. plant, fungus, lichen that only grows up the mountain?
Maybee its something really unusual - such as a fossil outcrop that has a small but specialized clientele (much like Alnif in Morocco from where a unique selection of wonderfully preserved Trilobytes come from).