2022 Holiday Gift Guide

Letter from our Retail Director

Dear ABF Supporter,

Often we find ourselves in shops filled to the brim with unexceptional items destined for landfills. My goal since joining Anza Borrego Foundation in 2019 has been to provide our guests with thoughtful products that will endure and remain special long after their visit has passed. These items might inspire a new desert enthusiast or reward a long time visitor with countless miles under their boots while highlighting the unique flora and fauna that keep us on the trails season after season. A key motivator for me has always been supporting retail partners who promote sustainability, build in the USA or are mission driven companies that pay it back to public lands. In this season of giving, I encourage you to abandon the digital wish lists sent by friends and family and shop with your heart by supporting the following partners while supporting the Park you love.

Retail Director

Coyote Brush Studios

We had the privilege of meeting the owners of Coyote Brush Studios in 2019 and have carried some of their product line ever since. Not only do we

love that many of their products are hand made in California, but we also love that Anza Borrego Desert State Park was a source of inspiration for some of their designs! Below is our latest Spirit of Excellence story written by Tina Curiel about her first visit to Anza Borrego Desert State Park with business partner, Lindsey Moore.

Spirit of Excellence Story

Like many folks, in 2019, we traveled down from our Bay Area studios to marvel at the super bloom. I'm a watercolor artist who works exclusively from my own reference photos, and we had one day to explore Anza-Borrego Desert State Park I knew we needed to make the most of it! Being more used to towering redwoods and oak woodlands, I had no idea what to expect from this first trip to the desert. Any preconceptions were immediately shattered as we started walking through Palm Canyon. The sound of flowing water was a surprise to our ears,

and a rainbow of flowers were bursting out of the seams of rocks around every corner. We traveled to the fan palms and Coyote Canyon. Just as we were leaving and the sun was setting, we were thrilled to capture a sighting of a big horn sheep and hear its hooves navigating the rocky side of the mountain with ease. Our trip was brief, but it was the most memorable trip we made in a busy year of traveling the state. I couldn't wait to return to my studio to paint some species we encountered ocotillo, fan palm, ghost flower, sideblotched lizard and more.

"Just as we were leaving and the sun was setting, we were thrilled to capture a sighting of a big horn sheep and hear its hooves navigating the rocky side of the mountain with ease. "

It’s crucial for my painting practice to observe and photograph each species featured in my work before I paint them. Our work aims to help inspire a love of and appreciation for the native plants and animals that make California so unique. I believe that if I want to help new people make connections with the native plants and animals around them, I need first to build my own personal stories

and relationship with these species so I can share that excitement with others. We know we’ve only captured a portion of what makes Anza Borrego Desert State Park so special and can't wait to visit again!

Show your love for Coyote Brush Studios by shopping from our selection. Also, check out our latest Boxed Wildflower tees with botanical artwork created by Tina!

DRAWN TO ECOLOGY

Artist, science communicator and mental health advocate, Alyssa, the self-proclaimed “outdorker” behind Drawn to Ecology blends scientific illustrations with whimsical anthropomorphizing of species to allow every adventurer to learn about the places they recreate and tap into the healing powers of nature through the use of art. Their products are made in the USA, sustainably, and a portion of their proceeds go to support the planet and our public lands.

Partnering with Anza Borrego Foundation has allowed Alyssa to create a variety of designs that highlight species within the Park in a fun whimsical way. Working together to support artists & public lands, a partnership that we hope will continue to blossom!

Check out our Drawn to Ecology products below!

KIMBALL PRINTS

Carolyn Kimball is a printmaker and painter living in Austin, TX. Kimball Prints, her home decor line, launched in 2012 after a retailer requested some of her fine art images on tea towels. What's a tea towel?, Carolyn asked. She's been helping others answer the same question ever since.

Kimball Prints cotton tea towels are soft, absorbent and durable, true kitchen workhorses. They're perfect for drying glasses, helping bread rise, sopping up spills or as a lovely hand towel. They're so pretty you *almost* won't mind doing the dishes at all. All of Carolyn’s products are made handmade in USA, eco-friendly and cannot be found on Amazon. Carolyn also produces our custom Anza Borrego birch ornaments each holiday season, grab one (or more!) before they’re gone!

DENEEN POTTERY

Started in 1972 by Peter and Mary Deneen, Deneen Pottery remains family owned and proudly makes every product in USA. Each mug is hand thrown and is touched by over 24 pairs of hands during the production process.

CHICOBAG

Based in Chico, CA, the ChicoBag mission is Helping Humanity Bag The Single Use Habit. Manufactured using rePETe: a trademarked term ChicoBag uses to identify products made from recycled materials. Each bag folds into an integrated pouch when not in use and includes a carabiner to clip it to a purse or backpack easily, so it's always ready for action! All ChicoBag rePETe products contain certified Repreve® fabric from 100% post consumer recycled plastic bottles. In addition to producing these unique products, ChicoBag is a 1% For The Planet Member and has built a Seven Point Plan For Sustainability, leading by example with their sustainability efforts.

WILD TRIBUTE

Wild Tribute donates 4% of its proceeds to support our parks, forests, oceans, and public lands. With your support, their "4 the Parks" donations have eclipsed $1,000,000 and beyond.

In California, Wild Tribute donates to a number of grassroots organizations associated with the Golden State's stunning national and state parks Yosemite, Sequoia, Joshua Tree, Redwood, Anza Borrego in addition to national forest locations within the Eastern Sierras.

In Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Wild Tribute contributed to the Park's ongoing land acquisition initiative to bring private land back to the public for both protection and recreation. In Yosemite, they assisted with a clean-up effort that removed 14,000 lbs. of trash. In Redwood, they helped build a much needed trail to the famous Grove of the Titans. In Joshua Tree, they bought an air monitoring system to try and

help improve air quality. In Sequoia, they funded the "Rangers in a Classroom" initiative and in the Eastern Sierras, they sponsored the 2020 Winter Adventure Series in Mammoth Lakes, CA. Support the ongoing Wild Tributes by shopping from our latest assortment!