A Career Change Into Agriculture

The Story of a Local Brewery

Posted on May 21, 2024
Mara Do Santos and her spouse own the business La Ferme. With pride in her voice, she tells us how they took an unexpected leap by leaving their respective careers in law and engineering to become farmers. The couple’s life completely shifted when they decided to start their business.
Catherine Dallaire, Agronome

How the Brewery Was Born

“We started from nothing and bought a plot of land near Montreal. There was a long transition period, during which one of us had to keep working in the city. We had to work three full years before even launching our first beer!” Mara exclaimed.

She goes on to say that they faced many challenges, especially in the beginning.

“Our first attempt to grow organic barley in a prairie was a monumental failure. We quickly had to surround ourselves with experienced folks,” she said.

A Place to Experience

La Ferme is a country brewery that produces beer from field to bottle. And it’s been nothing short of successful! The brewery is known for its beautiful customer experience. Patrons can sit down on a sunny outdoor terrace and sip local beer while admiring vast fields of barley and hops.

Truth is, the charmingly simple atmosphere customers enjoy when visiting La Ferme is built on countless hours of effort and teamwork.

Mara explains, “All our customer service employees also give a hand with farm duties. That’s what makes our company unique. Everyone starts out on the field, whether it be for harvesting or maintenance, before they move on to the brewery.”

The more you listen to Mara’s journey with her company, the more you realize it was bound to succeed. Once again, perseverance and determination laid the groundwork for the project’s outcome.

Catherine Dallaire, Agronome