Then, there are couples such as Don and Karen Thoms, who, when it was time to put in a garden, invited the whole neighborhood to flourish.

It’s a new take on an old theme, of course, though most group gardens are administered by a municipality or church or school or nonprofit group.

But the Thomses said they believe you can’t go too far in promoting community, and opening up their yard at 50 Gold Ave. SW for the secondary sake of veggies is a good way to connect with friends and neighbors.

“We live in each other’s lives,” says Karen, 54, who worships (Servant’s Community Church), works (West Side library) and works out (the downtown Y) within a mile of the home she and her 61-year-old husband bought 10 years ago.

“My goal,” she said with glee, “is to not own a car.”

And it’s also to meet and greet and get to know more people in the couple’s neighborhood, where they believe more and more owners and renters are taking pride in the place they call home.

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