Meanwhile, in the Anti-Reston: Down on the Farm

It's been a while since we checked in with our friendly neighbors to the west. What's been doing? Oh, just reckoning whether farm animals make for good pets in suburban neighborhoods, is all:

The Town of Herndon is reviewing its regulations for keeping goats and chickens in backyards at the request of some town residents.

The current rules regarding livestock are somewhat patchwork, existing both in the town code and its zoning ordinance. Goats are currently not allowed, and there is a one-chicken limit. Pet pigs were granted a reprieve in 2007, at the request of a resident who had a pet pig.

We're guessing all such things are strictly verboten by the Reston Association, so Advantage: Herndon, at least if'n you like your livestock close (and your dinner closer).

Given some recent unpleasantness in town that drew national attention, we're wondering if our neighbor is developing a bit of a "prepper" attitude, ready to "live off the land" if the UN, in cahoots with the Obama administration and those liberals at NPR, goes ahead and parachutes in European road crews intent on building traffic circles or something. But no, it's all at the behest of a nice lady who keeps hens and goats whose milk helps treat her rheumatoid arthritis. So it's all good, as the kids no longer say.

There's still the question of whether such animals are appropriate for suburban neighborhoods, though we'd wager that this Herndon structure, currently on the market due to foreclosure, certainly seems barn-like enough to fit the bill. Heck, we'd wager it even has a cement pond, the end.