VENTURA — Ventura Land Trust (VLT) will be hosting its annual Gear Garage Sale fundraising event on Saturday, April 25, 2026, from 12:00 pm-4:00 pm at Topa Topa Brewing Company (4880 Colt Street, Ventura). The event made its debut in 2022 as a fundraiser for the land trust and returned in 2023, but was on hiatus for two years. It resumes this year with an abundance of high-quality gear.
“We were inspired to create this event during a 2021 meeting with a supporter at her home. She had a stack of tents at the edge of the room and mentioned that she was working to sell them in the secondhand marketplace. My colleague and I looked at each other, eyebrows raised, as we had the same flash of inspiration. As soon as we got in the car, we started mapping out what the VLT Gear Garage Sale could look like,” explained Ventura Land Trust Executive Director Melissa Baffa.
For months, community members have donated their lightly used gear to the inventory, and a team of volunteers, led by Stephen “Red” Hofheinz, has catalogued, cleaned, sorted, and priced the items. Land Trust volunteers and staff estimate that more than 1,200 items will be available for sale.
“When great gear sits around unused, it collects the wrong kind of dust. This way, we are extending the life cycle of useful items, putting them back into use and keeping them out of the landfill,” said Baffa.
The sale starts at 12:00 pm, but savvy shoppers will likely show up long before that to get in line. No early birds will be permitted, except for the volunteers who have made the event possible.
“Volunteers who have helped with collection and pricing, as well as setting up and running the sale will get a chance to get some early shopping in before the sale opens to the general public at noon. About an hour before doors, volunteers will be able to shop and purchase up to two items each, to thank them for their service,” said Red Hofheinz, the event manager and lead volunteer. Hofheinz, integral to this year’s effort, was recognized as Volunteer of the Year at VLT’s 2025 Supporter Spotlight event.
All items will be bargain-priced, with a 50% off sale running the last hour of the event, from 3:00-4:00 pm.
Also occurring on that day is Topa Topa’s annual Repurpose Revival event. This event brings a variety of vendors and community members together, with unique repurposed items for sale. Topa Topa founder Jack Dyer brought the two successful events together this year to amplify the synergy between them and the community members who would attend each event.
“Here at Topa Topa, we are firm believers of reducing, reusing, and recycling. Combining the Ventura Land Trust’s Gear Garage Sale with our annual Repurpose Revival event was a no-brainer. So come out, find some gear, drink some beer, and support Ventura Land Trust, an organization that serves a pivotal role in preserving our glorious way of life here in Ventura!”
Echoing Dyer’s sentiment, Baffa adds, “Topa Topa Brewing Company is a huge supporter of ours, and we are grateful for the space, the promotion, and the good vibes they provide for this event. With sustainability as one of their core values as a company, they are the perfect partner for an event like this. Additionally, Ventura Land Trust is one of four nonprofits featured this year on Topa Topa’s Good Good beer series. Part of the Good Good partnership is an ‘activation event’ at the brewery – and what says Earth Month more than Ventura Land Trust, Topa Topa Brewing Company (a 1% For the Planet member), Good Good beer, and helping people to reuse great gear while connecting to nature?”
In addition to the generous support provided by Topa Topa, the 2026 Gear Garage Sale is also sponsored by Athens Services.
About Ventura Land Trust
The mission of Ventura Land Trust is to permanently protect the land, water, wildlife and scenic beauty of the Ventura region for current and future generations. Founded in 2003, Ventura Land Trust believes that preserving open space and providing public access enhances the economy, quality of life, and public well-being of Ventura and surrounding communities. The organization currently owns and manages land along the Ventura River and in the Ventura hillsides, totaling just under 4,000 acres. The two largest, Ventura Hills Nature Preserve and Harmon Canyon Preserve, are open to the public daily from dawn to dusk for free. In addition to these major holdings, the Ventura Land Trust owns and stewards other smaller parcels across Ventura County. Ventura Land Trust received accreditation by the Land Trust Alliance in 2019, and re-accreditation in 2025. Learn more and become a member at www.venturalandtrust.org
About Topa Topa Brewing Company
Topa Topa Brewing Co. was founded in 2015 in Ventura, CA, nestled between the Topa Topa mountains in Ojai and the salty shores of the Pacific. We believe the people should drink great beer! And we love that we get to craft great beer amongst a landscape and community that inspires us.
Topa Topa is upheld by a trifecta of values: quality, craftsmanship, and community spirit. This means we use the freshest ingredients, we work with the most skilled brewers around, and we thrive on uplifting and unifying our community. We get stoked on good surf, a long hike, a tough climb, or a good-old-fashioned day of hard work. And we think these days are made all the better when we’re surrounded by friends with a cold beer in hand. So next time you’re near one of our tap rooms— whether in Ventura, Ojai, Santa Barbara or Camarillo— pull up a chair, grab a fresh pint, and enjoy the company. Or if you’re gearing up to take to the trails or the sea, never fear, we have 6-packs, growlers, and crowlers aplenty.