If you’ve been with me for a long time, then you probably remember my weekly (every Saturday) post on my old website The Survivalist Blog. The post was titled “What Did You Do to Prep This Week,” and it was very popular with readers. At its peak, it received an average of 600 comments.
I’ve thought about doing something similar on YouTube. However, I’m hesitant because Google owns YouTube, and they track everything you do and say through their AI system. My concern is about the privacy and safety of my subscribers on YouTube.
On the other hand, this is my website, and Google doesn’t own it. It offers much more privacy than anything owned by Google. The downside is that people seem to have lost interest in reading and prefer watching videos, mostly for entertainment, I think.
Anyway, please share your thoughts below. And remember, when commenting anywhere, even here, never post your name or any personal information.
So, let’s get on with it… What did I do to prep this week?
Unfortunately, I’ve been dealing with a bulging disc in my back for the past few weeks, which has limited my ability to do heavy lifting and digging. Thankfully, it seems to be improving, and I’m starting to move around with less pain. So, I haven’t made much progress with projects around the house, but I did manage to put back some more preps over the past few weeks.
As you might have heard, Berkey water filters have had a lot of issues and have refused to get NSF/ANSI 42 Certification, among other problems. I no longer promote Berkey water filters and won’t until they resolve their issues. However, I didn’t want to throw away the Berkey stainless steel chambers, so I decided to buy replacement filters that are NSF/ANSI 42 Certified and far more cost-effective.
These are the ones I bought and tested, and they are as good or better than the original Berkey filters, with the added bonus of being NSF/ANSI 42 Certified.
I also bought two more 150-round boxes of green-tip 5.56×45 ammo at my local sporting goods store, as well as three 50-round boxes of CCI Stinger .22LR ammo and a 25-round box of 12-gauge #6 shot at my local Walmart.
Additionally, I added two Glock 17 magazines to my growing collection. Stocking up on full-capacity firearm magazines is extremely important! Why? Because the federal government is eager to ban these full-capacity magazines, so you need to stock up on as many as you can afford.
I also bought two cases of canned food from the same Walmart, as well as some canning lids for my home canning.
Now this was an exciting purchase, that I’m REALLY happy with! I bought this and put it on my Mossberg 590A1… and I love it!
Last but not least, I bought the READY HOUR 4-Week Emergency Food Supply and two Augason Farms Butter Powder to replace the one I opened and started using for cooking. “Use one, buy two” is my motto when it comes to prepping.
Well, that’s it for me. What did you do to prep this week? Also, let me know how long you’ve been with me and if you remember the original “What Did You Do to Prep This Week” post. Thanks!
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I finished harvesting my garden. Washed, cored, and froze the tomatoes until I have time to can them. Purchased an additional propane tank for my grill.
I would like to see that come back. I have been reading your posts for years and would rather read them than watch them. Thanks for sharing the info.
I’ve bought nothing this week. I’ve been working with a cold and am broke because I spent my spare cash the week before hiking for a week in a beautiful part of the country. I needed the exercise and the headspace, both preps in a way. Of course been cleaning and repairing outdoors gear after the week, leaving messed up, dirty gear around is not good. Been prepping a project for when I have more time where I’m putting wood handles on blade blanks, a big money saver and you get the handle you want/need. It’s also a good learning process.
This week I looked into freeze dried soup mixes. I want to put the mixes into mason jars . I want different varieties with less pasta but more vegetables and beans. That way I can add water/ broth and any assortment of pressure canned meat I have. I’m learning to cook with freeze dried foods, my goal is to make my meals taste homemade.
I bought 12 different dry soup mixes and 12 cases of canned foods. Mowed my grass probably for last time this season. Moved 4 55 gallon plastic drums onto back patio to fill with water. I have 22 of these and about half are already filled. Learned to make fresh bread. Made list of things todo in next weeks to reorganize preps ajd get more organized and get more space for more preps and “hide in plain sight” as much as possible. SO MUCH STILL TODO. Oh and yes I remember the former posts and love them. Give you a mental pat on the back to get things done.
I too have missed these posts. Been dealing with health and family issues. Never too late to resume prepping! Thanks for your inspiration!!
William,
You’re welcome, and thank you for being here…
Hi M.D.
Been following you for years, and, yes, I remember “What did you do to prep this week”. Got lots of good ideas from it.
I’m getting my garden ready for winter and cutting firewood from cured logs. I’m also waiting for a multi-caliber silencer that I bought from Silencer Central. It’s usable from .22 to .308. The company does all the paperwork and they set up a Gun Trust for you to keep your silencer in, making it more difficult to be caught up in any sort of gun grab.
Thanks for the link to the Brita Filter Cartridges. I’ll check them out. I’m not happy with the Berkey issues, either.
Love this post. I began consolidating like items to distribute between INCH bags and Bug out bags.
This is good..I like seeing things in print. I went to the Dollar Store and picked up odds and ends …a few more cans of soup, vitamins,extra wash cloths and another box of crayons for the grandkids… ordered more freeze dried berries and vegies to stash in my long term goods. It’s a good exercise for my 80 year old brain..gotta keep on going…my two grandsons are 8 and 10, so I can’t leave just yet…I show them how to build fires, make shelters, sew yer’ pants butt up and put on buttons, just whatever real world skills you might need in SHTF…and cooking from scratch..the 8 yo is getting good at scrambled eggs… This is good MD, keep up the good work and I hope you heal up soon.
You popped up about a year ago and we have really enjoyed you and your content. Thanks for this and for all you do!
I miss the written posts . I try not to go on you tube It is a giant time suck for me and I do not trust it. Did not prep anything this week trying to catch up on maintenance and yard work. I learn more from reading than watching. Thanks,Dan
Glad to see “ What did you do to prep this week “ is back! I would rather read your articles. I am sorry to say, I don’t watch the videos.
I learned how to put an igniter rod in our pellet stove. I cleaned out the pipe. I cleaned around the homestead and got rid of several bags of junk. Is that considered a prep?
Thanks MD. I’ve been a subscriber for about 4 years and I don’t remember “what did you do to prep this week” but I think it’s a great idea! Thanks for the info and link about the berkey filter replacements as I’ve been trying to figure out which ones I should get. I used your link to get 2 sets so at least it’s a start. I hope the water tastes better than the original filters because I was never really happy with it and always thought it was kinda slimy. This week I’ve been cleaning out my garden and amending the soil getting ready to set out my fall plants. I’m in zone 8 so a lot of things will grow through the winter here unless it gets extra cold. Been going through food storage trying to get a better idea what I need to use up and where I need to fill in. Oh and btw, I paid $20.34 for that butter powder in March of 2024. Now it’s $38! Crazy times.
MD, I can’t afford to do a lot, but agree that building up a little at a time is the way to go. I wish I could do more, but lt is what it is. Anyway, this week I was able to stock up on antibiotic soap. I caught Dial soap on sale and was able to get 6 medium sized dispensers and 4 large refills for less than $12.
Dial soap has some antibiotic properties and is recommended by doctors to use before and after surgeries, as well with wounds and broken skin.
I prefer the bar form for daily use, but the liquid form is better if you have a wound or stitches to cleanse because you can apply more directly on or around the wound with less pressure on the skin.
I’d like to do more, but being retired on a fixed budget makes prepping a bit of a challenge. But I’ve never shied away from a challenge so I press on.
I try to do something every week, even if I can’t afford spending money on something. There is always wood to chop for my wood burning stove or gardening to do. All in all it keeps me busy.
Thanks for all you do.
I remember these posts from a long time ago. Glad to see it again.
I’m learning to make a meal from what I’ve stored. I only rent a room so I don’t have much space to store a lot. But I know I have almost 6 months worth of stuff, plus cat and dog food.
I have harvested the “almost” last of my tomatoes. Going to make salsa, tomato sauce, and vegetable soup to can. I also am getting my raised beds ready for fall planting of broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, collards, carrots, some lettuce, kale, onions, and garlic. Going to put some eggs in the freeze dryer, canning some pears today too. Filled up some 6 gallon water containers. Looking to purchase more ammo and another Glock. Thanks for this post, I do enjoy reading posts most of the time over a video, just for the quiet time. Thanks for sharing all of your tips and information, they have been very helpful for me. I tore a disc in my back a couple years ago, a good vitamin routine and lots and lots of water, among other things, helped in my recovery. Thank you!
Hmmm…not sure what you did to/for your Mossberg…? Been seriously considering a Shockwave purchase for truck (with laser). Re-decked my flatbed and new rubber all around on wife’s vehicle.
Click on the link and you would know… it’s not painful.
Sorry – actually looked for a link but color difference is very subtle on my phone and I missed it. Love the add-on.
/dave
Feel better with the back. Know the feeling. Nice addition for your 12 GA. I go back a spell so it would be nice to see What Did You Do To Prep This Week again. So this week I found and order some of those elusive 50 70 Government casings for my trapdoor. Started a conversion from flintlock to percussion. Inexpensive non functioning lock on an old Spain made rifle. Not replacing the lock. Old school conversion. Picked up a few bales of hay from a local farmer/grainy. They have a better price on chicken feed so will start purchasing there. Need to help the local farmers.
I put up 30 more lbs of hamburger and bought vegetables in cans on sale. I looked at your water filter recommendations and bought 4. Seemed like a good deal. Bought more of the butter too. I kept forgetting to order it so glad you said someyhing.
Been here many years always liked the
W d y d t p t w section glad to see it back. I believe all the years of preparation is getting ready to come in handy. Keep up the good work and never lose sight of the big picture and most of all your faith
Hi M.D. been with you several years.this week I too bought ready bucket of food. Still packing up my home in Tn. Have to get away from these neighborhood thieves. Bought 5 acres in Az to try to homestead with raised bed gardens. The land is fertile because the previous owner worked the soil.God bless you & all your endeavors!
I personally feel a time crunch so I’m doing something every day or a bunch of somethings! I’ve canned chili from scratch, made beef broth from beef heart and canned it, dehydrated a lot of super hot peppers and ground them and did all of my frozen vegetables in the dehydrator too. I ordered 40 pounds of sugar from a grocery that offered free deliveries because I have honey bee hives and I’ve been feeding them pollen-sugar water but now have to start the pollen cake making process. Cleaned out the 3 chicken coops (about 80 chickens worth of mess) to get them ready for winter. That’s just this week. Whew! I’m tired but still want to go to the sporting goods store with my gift card and pick up 22LR that I’m low on. I’m 71 years old and still do all that I can because if I’m not around to use it, my grandchildren will be set.
I rotated two of my gas cans and refilled them. I harvested the rest of my garden, and we canned tomatoes and beans until we ran out of room. We froze several pounds of green beans and placed 50 or more pounds of potatoes in cold storage. I put higher quality optics on two of my firearms and added 150 rounds to my stores. I also made it to the gym 4 days this week and two mornings at the range. I hope to do better next week because I don’t think we have much time left.
I feel like gardening season went by too fast. I’m also cleaning up what’s left from summer crop, making lots of salsa for winter. It’s the only way to get a taste of real tomatoes, as the store bought is garbage. And I agree with you, not much time left.
MD, thanks for bringing this post back. It’s good to see what others are doing and how I can do better.
Hubby picked up more ammo & we picked up some canned foods. I’m disabled, so the easiest way for us to stock is to stock these types of foods.
I’ve been watching you for a few years, but I didn’t have a youtube acct., so didn’t subscribe until this year. I’m canning canning canning all this week, I’ve got oodles to harvest. I also put in an order for Azure standard for some bulk foods, and bought a beef purchase of about 20lbs to put into the freezer. Just to top off that. Hope your back gets better. I’m trying to get around after i sprained my ankle, so I have to go slow. It’s just frustrating cause I have tons to do, but it eventually will all get done.
Hey M.D.
Sorry to hear about your back troubles-hope you’re better soon.
Been busy canning our tomatoes. Got a great deal on 50lbs of potatoes and am getting those canned and dehydrated. At the moment my canner is full of taco meat.
Keep up the good work and stay well! 🙂
just organizing things and cleaning, checking, double checking equipment and tools etc… getting sorted for winter so looking at winter readiness type stuff now and topping off!
Salty! 🙂
One of my favorite things about gardening is, seed saving. I’ve watched so many videos on the subject for several years now and all my tables are filled with drying seeds. There’s an art to it and it gives me so much joy.
Also canning like crazy, putting out some fall crops, composting the garden and trying to decide what I might need to buy for winter time. No rest for the wicked, as they say.
This is fun! I like reading what everyone’s doing. ❤️
Looked at rugged winter boots. Cant decide. Some bulk Spices. More simple recipes. Ordering the same extra filters for the berkey that Mr Creekmore ordered today. Washing out rain barrels tomorrow. Thinking of planting more carrots and turnips tomorrow also for fall garden. Got more meds. Few toiletries. I’m always doing something even if it’s only 6 boxes spaghetti at a time. I only go in Walmart every 2 or 3 mo. This is common sense stormy weather prepared as my WWll family taught me.
We’ve been building a big duck house as the previous metal frame was crushed by snow 2 years ago – only just got round to doing it. Quite impressed by HRH’s new carpentry skills – some of it was recycled from an old tin shack. Well, it won’t blow away, but we are finding that after 3 days of rain (well, this morning was reasonable) there are leaks. Better it happens now than when we move the ducks back in. I made a self-heal tincture. I’m working on a quilt top while the rain persists and almost ready to quilt it. Then I start on the next quilt – my family must keep warm with what is happening. Ordered more duck feed – it was only part, so we went out to source a mill that would have something else just in case. Unfortunately it contains GMO soya, so while I don’t like it – it is a port in a storm. I’ll be trying other places and feed. A bit worrying though. We are testing our freeze dried veg in meals and experimenting. I’ve sussed out cornbread now. Ordering seeds and onion and garlic sets to get ahead of the winter/autumn planting. I still have maincrop potatoes to unearth – probably eaten by slugs! We have freeze dried potatoes and HRH has been collecting raspberries. Onions are up and drying in our polytunnel. Peppers and are looking good and after a very slow start because of rubbish compost and rubbish weather – probably the best I’ve ever grown! I’m going to suss out a sweet chilli sauce/relish recipe. Tomatoes aren’t good, again poor compost, so tinned tomatoes are plan b.
I like reading!
So glad to see this segment back! Hope your back gets better soon. Been canning meats and beans since we’ve had nasty weather this week. Plan to begin cleaning the garden out to hopefully put some fall/winter items in the garden this coming week(Zone 9). Put a few broccoli and cabbage plants in the beds in the greenhouse.
We shopped a binstore got a gas can, office supplies, tools, clothes, water containers, tent poles, flannel fabric, garden supplies, first aid supplies, washing machine pods, Christmas presents and various other things. Bin stores are a great place to get nonfood supplies but you have to sort thru the bins and prices are according to which range from $7 to $1 depending on the day.
Mr. B has worked very hard this week on home repair and completed the first large step on a project. I helped in cleanup
We got our pup updated on yearly dental. Grateful to find a company that is all they do and not put this older pup asleep.
Cleaned out other nonfood preps to make sure they were usable and donated some to a charity if we don’t use.
Garden is winding down but enough squash and green beans to have a meal. Drought hit us hard.
Sometimes you feel you aren’t doing enough. Then you list what you did in the last 2 weeks, you are doing all you can.
Blessing M.D.! This made me feel better.
Thanks, dude. I appreciate your content. Normally I stream through the truck while I drive so I don’t “technically” watch I do listen. The lighting was no bother.
Only got a couple of boxes of ammo, a case of canned nummies, and put some cash back.
Every little bit helps.
Bought Hayes repair manuals for both cars.
This is a really good feature, and I’d participate up to a point on YouTube. I respect your reasons for hesitating, though, although I’m not sure how much privacy we have anywhere these days.
Anyway, I harvested the last of our butternut squash and prepped that bed for the fall garden’s spinach. And I bought some meat for the freezer.
Wow. It’s been quite a while since “What Did You Do To Prep This Week”. I always looked forward to that segment at TheSurvivalistBlog.net.
Didn’t do much this week, but I did find a few items while sorting things at work. I found an older Eton solar/battery/crank radio/light, etc. that still works great. Also a portable ‘kitchen sink’ and a few other piddly things for my BOBs.
I have been watching for many years. I have all your books. I truly hope your back is better soon. Give yourself time to heal. I have been collecting vegetable & flower seeds from my garden. Hauling wood for my dad he is 84 recently diagnosed with stage 4 cancer so do all I can to help him around farm & taking him to apts. Been canning pork butts got on sale and potatoes I grew .Yes I remember the what did you do to prepare this week. Take care of yourself
I fermented some salsa. I took inventory of my stuff. I wrote it down so I could see my short comings. I am 82 and my garden did not put out very well at all.
That is one of the best questions I have heard since you first started asking it, way back when. Idea before answering…Have a Website and add a Podcast if the platform gods are not happy. People can listen or watch, whatever is feasible. Livestreams, not sure about, but I think playback can be done after uploading. …First, your disc is in my thoughts and prayers. Lemongrass essential oil in a small bit of coconut or another carrier might help ease some of the pain. I stocked up on medicinals. A large bag of Dr. Teal’s Eucalyptus Epsom Salts and a pound of plain generic Epsom Salts. Got hold of a couple tubes of fresh Arnica pillules. A package of JB Weld Original. Checked my buck knife for sharpness.
I prefer to read things in print. I’m a fast reader, and can skim to get the “gist” of an article and then go back and re-read it if the information is new or requires more detailed understanding. Vlogs (video commentary) was interesting when it first came out. But now EVERYBODY podcasts or vlogs, and there just aren’t enough hours in the day to listen to them all. Especially when so much of the information is redundant. So I like your short video topic commentaries, and I like your written blog, but I tend not to watch longer videos because I just don’ t have the time.
I bought extra wood stove pipes and dampers and elbows, and more health and medical supplies, also read up on ways to make your own salves tinctures and oils , I bought more plastic rolls for securing drafts and other household items,
Hey MD! So glad to see this segment making a comeback, it’s always been my favorite. This week I planted 10 additional tomato plants that I grew from suckers. Garden didn’t do well early this season but is now doing great. I also cleared out all my plants that weren’t producing. DH planted a bunch of food plots for the deer & turkey so we hopefully will fill up the freezer this winter. We are expecting our first child in a few weeks so we are trying to get as much done as we can.
I sure hope you keep bringing this back and hope your back gets better!