Don't Kill My Weeds

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.

A Report on Weather Conditions & Species Sightings

April 25, 2026 -- The spring is moving along and the bass are biting. Spawning seems to be about over and the fish are ravenous and gaining weight. Our problem has been too many bass in our 6-acre pond so we are challenged to remove (one way or another) about 120 lbs of bass and sac-a-lait under 15". So I bought a new trolling motor for the flat boat and we are working diligently while drinking a lot of beer and having fun. Thank you Natural Resources Conservation Service for this opportunity to improve our pond habitat for healthier, fatter, and larger fish. The majority of our catch includes bass from about 10" to about 12.5". We are keeping a record and hope to see bigger fish by the end of the season.

2026 Vista Farm Journal

April 25, 2026 — The spring is moving along and the bass are biting. Spawning seems to be about over and the fish are ravenous and gaining weight. Our problem has been too many bass in our 6-acre pond so we are challenged to remove (one way or another) about 120 lbs of bass and […]

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 […]