La Crosse to consider guidelines for city farming, including having large farm animals

Idea is to promote raising/growing own food 

There could be some expanded opportunities for having your own little farm in the city of La Crosse.

Do you have a garden in your backyard? fine. A few chickens for fresh eggs? Perfectly legal. 

But goats, pigs and larger animals?

If you have enough acres, that could become something real in the future for La Crosse.

The city’s sustainability commission meets today to consider approving a plan to put into effect the La Crosse Food Growing Guide.

It’s basically a how-to for growing and raising your own food in the city – partially on the premise that it’s just healthier than eating processed food.  

While chickens are allowed in nearly every backyard in La Crosse currently, bigger animals – like pigs, goats, cows or horses – would require five acres of land to keep.

The city council would have final say in adopting the new livestock rules.

Chickens have been a relatively recent addition. Coops have sprouted up all over the city in the last few years. 

The new acreage guidelines for bigger animals would only be possible for very few. There just aren’t that many spots in La Crosse where someone has that much land. 

Another part of the food growing guide also includes guidelines for beekeeping and a practice known as guerrilla gardening.