Then & Now
By Judy Salamacha, photos provided by GGC member, Amaya Toke

Taylor Newton ‘”heard it through the grapevine” that his Morro Bay-based Guerrilla Gardening Club was needed to spruce up the grounds at Zoo to You in Paso Robles, which has plans to implement more public entertaining.
When Newton met Curator, Kasey House, they witnessed a serendipitous kinship that destined their organizations to work together.
Twenty years ago, David Jackson, an internationally known and respected exotic animal trainer and zoological manager, created Zoo to You to provide a permanent, loving home for displaced, abused, abandoned and permanently injured wild animals.
His vision included training “animal ambassadors” to travel to schools, nonprofits, private events and national television to inspire respect for all wildlife and their habitat.
Zoo to You opened with two buildings housing a parrot, snake, hawk, potbellied pig and a monkey. After the animals are surrendered, confiscated or dropped off because their owners purchased them illegally or gave them up when they realized they would act like wild animals, they are trained to travel with their caregivers and education specialists.
“David believes experiencing the animals firsthand builds a lasting memory,” House said. “We’re always asked where the public can see more of them. As our animals age and can’t travel, we still want people to be their enrichment. It made sense to create more programs to allow people at the zoo.”
In 2015, the burgeoning zoo has an aviary and enclosures for over 300 birds, reptiles, a camel, monkeys, bear, lemurs, porcupines, and a variety of cats, including a Bengal tiger. The 40-acre ranch, located at 2445 Adobe Rd., is habitat for a vineyard, Zoo to You, the WHAR Wolf Rescue (see: www.whar.org; WHAR specializes in rescuing wolf-dog hybrids and is also a very cool place), and TheraBee Honey.
About 10 years ago, Newton started building his vision for the Guerrilla Gardening Club, a non-profit education program that inspires young, street-wise men and women over age 15 to learn about plants, biology, and community through a learn-by-doing process. “A gardener understands the value and rewards that come with helping others and caring for our world,” philosophized Newton. “Our members have fallen down in life and we try to teach them how to get up again and survive every challenge.”
Volunteers provide labor, planting, maintenance, and composting at homes and public properties plus zero-waste recycling management at festivals and events. In exchange, members qualify for housing, sustenance, education and employment opportunities.
A commendable example of the club’s work is Morro Bay’s St. Timothy’s Catholic Church’s serene gardens. GGC has also developed a nursery open to the public on the church grounds.
Since 2012, GGC has contracted with 15-30 groups a year, offering, “strike teams for all those jobs volunteers don’t do during events.” The work completed at Zoo to You was a volunteered community project.
A Cal Poly graduate, Newton said, “I’m a biologist. I build eco-systems by planting sustainable vegetation that beautifies gardens and facilities. We spent two days at the zoo. First our kids did general clean-up and then we concentrated on making one area — the aviary — look rehabilitated.”
House knows Zoo to You is a work in progress to make the facility more attractive for events and public visiting. They are looking for grants and fund raising to pay for the needed improvements.
Newton realized his group would thrive doing more planting and maintenance at the zoo. “I’d love to start a Guerrilla Gardening Club in Paso Robles,” he said, “and find a landscape sponsor to help us take care of the zoo. Our kids had never seen animals like the Bengal tiger or the monkeys up close. They totally got it — these animals needed them. I’ve never seen them work so hard so long.”
Zoo to You currently opens to the public Saturdays from 3-4 p.m. A $10 donation is requested to help fund future projects like an event center. Private parties and meetings can be held onsite. A variety of fundraisers are held throughout the year. For example, April 25 from 2-6 p.m. is “Get Buzzed with the Beasts” featuring craft beers, wineries, and honey, while visiting with the “animal ambassadors.” (Details at: www.zootoyou.com.)
“Everybody, every living thing has value,” Newton said. “We’re not here to change society, but to get through life by making one’s space livable.”

Judy Salamacha’s column is special to Tolosa Press. Reach her at: or call (805) 801-1422.