Review of Dirt-Cheap Survival Retreat by M.D. Creekmore

M.D. Creekmore’s Dirt-Cheap Survival Retreat provides a good overview on how to live off the grid using a trailer on a piece of “junk land.”  In the early chapters he provides advice and starting points on how to buy junk land and travel trailers, and how to run it off generators and solar panels.
About six years ago I found myself in a similar situation to Creemore’s in that I found myself living in a camper after a divorce.  I lived in campgrounds during the summer and I wintered over where I worked (thanks to the generosity of the guy who ran the business). The book took me back to that time, because I wrestled with many of the same challenges he discusses: winterizing a camper, space challenges, getting and keeping the appliances working, etc.
What his book lacks is detail on these systems.  For example, he talks about how he set up his solar powered system and what the various components do, which is very good, but leaves out detail like how it’s wired.  He has pictures of animals, but doesn’t discuss how to raise them.  If I were to purchase this book I would like to know what he’s raising, how they’re penned up, what he’s feeding them, how he gets water to them, etc.  And what’s the return on investment for raising these animals?  Eggs?  Meat chickens?  Goats milk?  How is his land laid out for gardening?
The book is 79 pages long, which isn’t enough to give a lot of detail on any one of the subjects he discusses, but there is a lot of information on things you will need to think about: electricity, food and water, waste, security and other things.  He brings enough information to the table so that you can research your solutions.
I would suggest using M.D.’s book in conjunction with other books that have more detail.  For example:  his section on solar powered electricity might be used in conjunction with another book that focuses purely on solar and wind energy.  In this manner you’ll get the idea of what you should use from Creekmore’s book and from the other reference you’ll know how to wire it from the ground up.  He does cite other works on the Internet you can look up as reference in some of his chapters.
Creekmore’s Dirt-Cheap Survival Retreat is $12, which at first pass seems a little steep.  However, given the nature of today’s economy, where I just spent $12 on three pounds of grapes, maybe it isn’t a bad price.  There is good information and a touch of humor here and there (“a date with Bubba” – cracked me right up), and it is clearly and concisely written.
If you’re just starting out in the survivalist/prepper’s world this book would be a good investment.
– Jarhead Survivor