By Kris Leonhardt

PLOVER – Those who have interest in a gluten-free (GF) diet or celiac disease are invited to attend a Plover garden tour, to be held July 19-31.

“The tour would feature how I use my garden to feed us GF food,” said host Elaine Rubel. “It might be fun, interesting, and provide information on providing GF food from the garden to the table, from breakfast to supper, including putting up for the winter.”
Rubel has been gardening for close to 50 years, a passion nurtured and carried on from her father.

“My dad was a Master Gardener and a member of the Men’s Garden Club of America and did editing on a book from Men’s Garden club of America,  ‘A to Z Hints for the Vegetable Gardener,’” recalled Rubel. “I wore out the first copy I had of the book and my daughter bought me my second copy and bought a copy for their family.

“In the 70s, we moved into our home.  We had camped across the country a lot seeing many wild flowers; off and on I was a member of the ‘Wild Ones.’ Early in the 70s, we planted a prairie planting in our yard using plants from Prairie Nursery.  The original owner of Prairie Nursery in Westfield, WI, would not sell me the plants until I did some studying of how to grow prairie plants and told me where to find the information.  Since then, I have planted prairie plants in several parks and especially my yard.”

But, it was her father’s death that led her to a greater understanding of gluten sensitivity and how that knowledge could be incorporated into garden-to-table nutrition.

“My dad died with a hole in his colon and I found I inherited DNA markers of non celiac gluten sensitivity from both my dad and my mom, between the two they carried three DNA markers – one for celiac and two for non celiac gluten sensitivity,” Rubel explained. “During my life I was also treated for Lyme disease and beat it, but with the gluten issues and the lyme, I now also struggle with toxic chemicals from chemicals in fragrances.  I have gone back to Rachel Carsen’s book, ‘Silent Spring’ and can relate to chemicals in the environment affecting the gut, just like gluten affects the gut.”

Rubel currently works with Gluten Free Stevens Point to assist others in that knowledge. As part of those efforts, she will host the garden tour on an appointment-based schedule, while practicing COVID guidelines this month.

“I have a large garden and I will provide tours with social distancing and people wearing their masks.  This would only be by appointment and include a number of individual tours for one to a few people at a time,” she added.

“For the garden tour to work, people must be willing to follow COVID-19 guidelines… The guidelines are simple and straightforward with wearing your mask and staying over six feet apart.  If you have symptoms of COVID-19 or have been doing something that puts you at a clear risk of carrying COVID-19, do not come.

“For the garden tour I also request that you avoid wearing toxic scents, such as the use of dryer sheets, scented laundry detergents, perfumes, or essential oils…

Rubel will host the Gluten Free Stevens Point garden tour at 2030 Adams Street, Plover, July 19-31, by appointment.

For more information, contact [email protected] or 715-347-2417, or visit http://glutenfreestevenspoint.weebly.com.

Rubel’s garden was also featured in a local parade of gardens in 2002.