Vista Farm is a 30-acre small-wildlife habitat in Madisonville, Louisiana, where native plants and animals thrive in a flatwood (pine savanna) biome and we photograph their seasonal appearances. The soil is moist, acidic clay with sunlight and shade and the land is entirely flat and poorly drained. At home in your flowerbed and lawn weeds and grasses may be pests, but in our pond, meadow, forest and wetland habitats they are welcome. The biodiversity is amazing! Don’t Kill My Weeds helps gardeners and nature lovers identify native species through a gallery of plants and animals with articles on caring for a habitat where small wildlife are protected.
2026 Vista Farm Journal
February 26, 2026 — We thought at first it was a heron, but when it tucked it’s wings and blasted a hole in the pond we said, “Pelican?” In 21 years that’s the first pelican we ever saw on the pond. It hung around for 20 minutes or so constantly feeding on whatever fish were […]
Fish Pond Management
Vista Farm is fortunate to have been awarded a stewardship grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture through the Natural Resources Conservation Service. This program is available to hobby farms of a certain size where owners wish to improve or re-establish the natural habitat of native plant and animal species. Grants require a five-year commitment […]
Duck Gumbo with Andouille Sausage
For a delicious change, try Duck Gumbo with Andouille sausage. Make it with either Pekin or wild duck. On the side, how about some buttermilk cornbread and pecan pie for dessert. Make mine warm with ice cream. Makes enough to serve six. 1 large duck (Pekin or Muscovy-sized) Broth: 3 quarts of water salt and […]