Book Review: Dirt-Cheap Survival Retreat

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Do your best where you are with what you have.

I live by this motto because preparedness is a journey, not a destination. Sometimes along the way, your bank account may allow for expensive “survival food” and expensive solar arrays, and at other times along the way, an extra can of tuna is a stretch. By learning a little bit more every day, trying new things along the way, and making necessary purchases whenever possible, you can make great strides toward being prepared. This is M.D. Creekmore’s philosophy in his book, Dirt-Cheap Survival Retreat.

M.D. is the mastermind behind TheSurvivalistBlog.net. He’s a single guy living in Tennessee who, one day, decided that he, too, could set up a viable survival retreat without it costing an arm and a leg. He purchased two acres with cash, added a travel trailer for a home, and then made numerous modifications to maximize its survival potential. He has a garden, plenty of power provided by a combination of solar and

He gives advice for finding inexpensive land, he calls it, “junk land”, and for buying a sturdy travel trailer. M.D. shares how he handles water and sanitation and security issues that come with living out in the wilderness. He provides convenient lists, photos and diagrams to assist with his explanations of how he makes everything work.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned about survival, it’s this: no one size fits all. One person’s “perfect solution” is another’s impossible dream or worst case scenario. You may never see yourself living in a travel trailer out in the wilderness, but M.D. has made it work, and it could be a viable option if your dream survival retreat is out of the question. Most families could afford an acre or two and a used trailer, and with some determined savings, could even pay for it all with cash.

I recommend Dirt-Cheap Survival Retreat to just about any prepper, if only for the tips for living in small quarters and his ingenious methods for providing power to his home. Kudos to M.D. for assessing his assets and liabilities and coming up with a solution that works for him and may work for you, too.

(7) Readers Comments

clarissa mc kenzie
April 27, 2011 at 7:28 am

This is great although I have no issues with living in a small space as we are currently in a 2 bdrm apt but we are going to lose it. Where do you go when you do not have money for land? Where you want to be away and self reliant with your family in a tent? That's my million dollar question? When you are becoming homeless and are a family, do you advertise for a spot of land to use? When you want to be on the down low and do not plan on looking like you live out of a tent because you are prepared, how does one go about this? I sure wish I knew. Never thought I'd be in this position so soon.:-(

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- TheSurvivalMom
  April 27, 2011 at 8:38 am
  
  Keep the faith, Clarissa! Your homelessness will probably be temporary. Did you read the post here a while back about tips for living out of your car? http://thesurvivalmom.com/2011/02/17/repost-12-ti… You won't be living out of a car, but he has some very good tips for staying clean and safe. God bless and guide you and your family. )
  
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- Liz Long
  April 29, 2011 at 7:21 am
  
  God bless.
  
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- LittleGeks
  May 2, 2011 at 5:56 am
  
  Brightest Blessings Clarissa. You and your family will be in our thoughts and prayers. Good luck and my your adversity now turn into your triumph later.
  
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Guest
April 27, 2011 at 10:12 am

I used live in a 24 foot travel trailer. It is a pretty cheap way to live even when you don't own your own land. A lot of trailer camp grounds have permanent spots. Also some camp grounds hire camp host to live on the grounds toe take care of them.You just have too look around. Woodalls put out a book with info on campgrounds all across the USA,Canada and parts of Mexico.Good Luck Claissa.

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Utah mom
May 8, 2011 at 9:13 am

Dear Clarissa,
Some banks are allowing families to live in empty homes, free of charge, because they "show" better for prospective buyers than vacant homes. The catch is that you have to be willing to show the house anytime and you may have to move out on short notice. This isn't ideal, I know, but it's a possibility for a roof over your head.
May the Lord bless you and your family.

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Place of Refuge 2012
May 25, 2011 at 8:41 am

It's important to know WHERE to go to actually survive what is coming down the pike. Not to get dreary, but anyone notice how close we are to WWIII? place of refuge 2012 dot com

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