The Coastal Dirt Project
A long-term documentation of Western life on California’s Central Coast.
Ranching has been part of San Luis Obispo County for generations and continues to shape much of its land, communities, and culture. Behind it are working families, some several generations deep, making a living raising cattle, sheep, and horses throughout the county.
Coastal Dirt is an ongoing photographic and written documentary of these working ranches as they exist today. The project follows the people, livestock, land, and daily work behind each operation, building an honest record of ranching in San Luis Obispo County over time.
Each story will also provide participating ranches the opportunity to share more about their operation, history, and where appropriate, ways to support them directly through the products they raise and sell.
Together, these individual stories will build a larger photographic record of working ranching in San Luis Obispo County.
Working Ranches of SLO County
Coastal Dirt is currently looking for working cattle, sheep, and horse ranches throughout San Luis Obispo County to photograph and include in the project.
The focus is on active operations where ranching remains a meaningful part of the family’s livelihood. Large or small, old or new, the interest is in the people who continue to make their living from the land.