We haven’t always bought most of our food at a supermarket. Why do we spend so much money on food? The main reason is convenience because we are caught up in a vicious cycle: work to pay bills.

The more we work the more we pay for food, transport, health, and clothes. Years ago, I figured out that around 80% of our monthly income goes that are either related to taxes or work-related expenses.

Many people in Asia prefer to reduce their work expenses, and forage for food in nearby mountains, rice fields and alongside the local roads, which commonly includes fish, mushrooms, fruit, and herbs. It is possible in Asia to, if you have rice, to eat for free.

The pictures in this book are about farmers, food, and the joy of paying less for food leaving you with more free time and cash for other things. The cliché, drop out of the rat race, is as accurate now, if not more so, than it was 50 years ago.

Food is getting more expensive, and is usually processed, as are housing and medical costs. So, yes you can have a mini dropout buy foraging for food, fishing, buying your fruit and vegetables, or growing them yourself, at farmers markets.

This can save you hundreds of dollars a month on your food bill and reduce your medical expenses because “cheap/ free food’ is usually fresh, organic, and healthy. There are limitations and repetition in these images which I am aware of and hope to address this in the next 12 months.

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