Want to dream up a new forest?

Join us for a drink at Topa Topa Brewing Company (map) in Ventura to talk trees and grow a conversation starting with an acorn in a pub.

Once Upon a Watershed Program Director Dr. David White from the Ventura Land Trust is bringing a bag of acorns to share so you can take an oak home in your pocket.

Dr. White has a B.S. in Biological Sciences and Ph.D. in Cell Biology from the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. We think this qualifies him as an excellent and entertaining person with whom to raise a pint. He adds, “Slàinte Mhath!” (Scots Gaelic - pronounced Slanj-a-va).

You'll also meet author Melina Sempill Watts. Her novel Tree is the story of 229 years in the life of a California live oak from the point of view of the tree. Watts and Dr. White are inviting Oaktober Oktopafest guests to share memories about their own favorite tree.

Copies of Tree will be available for sale at the event; 75% of proceeds go to Ventura Land Trust.

Tree is also available at Timbre Bookstore on Main Street.