Horticulturalist Erica Jo Shaffer was on The Spark Thursday at the height of the growing season with gardening tips.

May can be the best late spring month but there’s a lot of do to keep the plants, flowers, trees and garden healthy and thriving.

We’ve had a lot of rain this month so how does it affect the garden, what fertilizers are the most effective that are also environmentally friendly, how the insects in the garden – some are bad but others are essential. Are you feeding birds or even hummingbirds this spring?

These are all topics Erica addressed on the program.

Horticulturalist Erica Jo Shaffer was on The Spark Thursday at the height of the growing season with gardening tips.
May can be the best late spring month but there’s a lot of do to keep the plants, flowers, trees and garden healthy and thriving.
We’ve had a lot of rain this month so how does it affect the garden, what fertilizers are the most effective that are also environmentally friendly, how the insects in the garden – some are bad but others are essential. Are you feeding birds or even hummingbirds this spring?
These are all topics Erica addressed on the program.

When people come together and talk about really interesting topics, great questions spark better understanding and opportunities for new ideas to form. On The Spark from WITF, host Asia Tabb starts conversations about what’s happening in the world and at home. Share your ideas at https://witf.org/programs/the-spark.

When people come together and talk about really interesting topics, great questions spark better understanding and opportunities for new ideas to form. On The Spark from WITF, host Asia Tabb starts conversations about what&rsquo;s happening in the world and at home. Share your ideas at https://witf.org/programs/the-spark.

The Spark

When people come together and talk about really interesting topics, great questions spark better understanding and opportunities for new ideas to form. On The Spark from WITF, host Asia Tabb start the conversations about what’s happening in the world and at home. Share your ideas at https://witf.org/programs/the-spark.

When people come together and talk about really interesting topics, great questions spark better understanding and opportunities for new ideas to form. On The Spark from WITF, host Asia Tabb start the conversations about what&rsquo;s happening in the world and at home. Share your ideas at&nbsp;<a href="https://witf.org/programs/the-spark">https://witf.org/programs/the-spark</a>.

Erica Jo Shaffer with gardening tips

M28 Ministries

2026 PA Home and Garden Show

(00:00:00)

M28 Ministry has acquired a four‑unit apartment complex that will become Esther’s House, a new affordable, recovery‑focused housing resource for men and women rebuilding their lives after addiction. The purchase was finalized on February 13 and made possible through $416,098 in Cumberland County HOME funding, a critical investment that allowed the project to move forward.

(00:22:04)

The 2026 Pennsylvania Home + Garden Show brings more than 200 home and garden professionals, expansive spring‑themed displays, celebrity guests, hands‑on activities, and special ticket promotions to the PA Farm Show Complex from March 5–8. It’s positioned as the region’s largest, most comprehensive destination for remodeling ideas, design inspiration, outdoor living trends, and local artisan shopping.

(00:00:00)
M28 Ministry has acquired a four‑unit apartment complex that will become&nbsp;Esther&rsquo;s House, a new affordable, recovery‑focused housing resource for men and women rebuilding their lives after addiction. The purchase was finalized on February 13 and made possible through $416,098 in Cumberland County HOME funding, a critical investment that allowed the project to move forward.
(00:22:04)
The 2026 Pennsylvania Home + Garden Show brings more than 200 home and garden professionals, expansive spring‑themed displays, celebrity guests, hands‑on activities, and special ticket promotions to the PA Farm Show Complex from March 5&ndash;8. It&rsquo;s positioned as the region&rsquo;s largest, most comprehensive destination for remodeling ideas, design inspiration, outdoor living trends, and local artisan shopping.

From Home Design Trends to Housing Recovery Solutions: PA Home + Garden Show and M28 Ministry’s Esther’s House Drive Community Focus

Nursing

Lazy Moon Ranch

(00:00:00)

First, Penny Lenig‑Zerby, director of the UPMC Shadyside School of Nursing in Harrisburg, and Joye Gingrich, UPMC in Central Pa.’s Chief Nursing Officer, share their personal journeys into nursing and what drives them to train the next generation. They discuss the realities of today’s nursing workforce, the many career paths available to new graduates, and how UPMC supports nurses as they enter the field and continue their education. They also outline practical steps for listeners interested in applying to nursing school at a time when demand for skilled nurses has never been higher.

(00:22:22)

Then, the conversation shifts to Pennsylvania’s hemp and cannabis landscape through the story of Lazy Moon Ranch and its founder, Ron Boyles. After a debilitating back injury and years of opioid dependence, Ron turned to medical cannabis—an experience that helped him reclaim his health and sparked his advocacy for patient access. Today he leads the Green Bridge Society, connecting patients with certifying doctors across multiple states, and cultivates CBD hemp at Lazy Moon Ranch following the 2018 Hemp Farm Bill. Ron shares what distinguishes hemp from cannabis, how the industry works, and what recent legislation means for growers, consumers, and curious newcomers.

(00:00:00)
First,&nbsp;Penny Lenig‑Zerby, director of the UPMC Shadyside School of Nursing in Harrisburg, and Joye Gingrich, UPMC in Central Pa.&rsquo;s Chief Nursing Officer, share their personal journeys into nursing and what drives them to train the next generation. They discuss the realities of today&rsquo;s nursing workforce, the many career paths available to new graduates, and how UPMC supports nurses as they enter the field and continue their education. They also outline practical steps for listeners interested in applying to nursing school at a time when demand for skilled nurses has never been higher.
(00:22:22)
Then, the conversation shifts to Pennsylvania&rsquo;s hemp and cannabis landscape through the story of Lazy Moon Ranch and its founder, Ron Boyles. After a debilitating back injury and years of opioid dependence, Ron turned to medical cannabis&mdash;an experience that helped him reclaim his health and sparked his advocacy for patient access. Today he leads the Green Bridge Society, connecting patients with certifying doctors across multiple states, and cultivates CBD hemp at Lazy Moon Ranch following the 2018 Hemp Farm Bill. Ron shares what distinguishes hemp from cannabis, how the industry works, and what recent legislation means for growers, consumers, and curious newcomers.

Care, Cultivation, and Changing Industries: Two Paths Shaping Pennsylvania’s Future

Ephraim's Slaughter

Cursive in Schools

(00:00:00)

We look back at Ephraim Slaughter: Freedom’s Witness, the one-act production created for the Annual Dauphin County Black History Celebration by Sankofa African American Theatre Company and Gamut Theatre, in partnership with the National Civil War Museum. Actors Marcus McGhee and Melinda Anderson help us revisit the life of Ephraim Slaughter—a man born enslaved who became a Union Army veteran, community leader, and witness to a century of American change. Through their performances, the play brings audiences into a Harrisburg room in 1943, where memory, resilience, and long-silenced truths finally speak.

(00:22:02)

Then we turn to a new Pennsylvania law requiring cursive handwriting instruction in schools. Dr. Kerry Hasler-Brooks and Dr. Sarah Fischer explore why cursive still matters—from reading historical documents to strengthening cognitive development, deepening literacy skills, and slowing down enough to think critically in a fast-paced digital world. Together, they make the case that preserving history isn’t just about the stories we tell—it’s about ensuring future generations can read them.

(00:00:00)
We look back at&nbsp;Ephraim Slaughter: Freedom&rsquo;s Witness, the one-act production created for the Annual Dauphin County Black History Celebration by Sankofa African American Theatre Company and Gamut Theatre, in partnership with the National Civil War Museum. Actors Marcus McGhee and Melinda Anderson help us revisit the life of Ephraim Slaughter&mdash;a man born enslaved who became a Union Army veteran, community leader, and witness to a century of American change. Through their performances, the play brings audiences into a Harrisburg room in 1943, where memory, resilience, and long-silenced truths finally speak.
(00:22:02)
Then we turn to a new Pennsylvania law requiring cursive handwriting instruction in schools. Dr. Kerry Hasler-Brooks and Dr. Sarah Fischer explore why cursive still matters&mdash;from reading historical documents to strengthening cognitive development, deepening literacy skills, and slowing down enough to think critically in a fast-paced digital world. Together, they make the case that preserving history isn&rsquo;t just about the stories we tell&mdash;it&rsquo;s about ensuring future generations can read them.

Erica Jo Shaffer with gardening tips

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