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April was another exciting month for LuckyDuck: New services; New friends; New stories and New clients!
We've launched a new website for Sibylle Bechtold of NoRush Farm - be sure to read about her in our lead story.
We have web sites in progress, soon to come will be more new sites and re-designs.
Please visit our May website - check out this month's Loons by our returning guest - Nature Photographer Rose Hirtle. Also our updated LuckyPals - for May, it's home to Bruce Wildsmith, an organic market gardener with an interesting story.
We hope you enjoy our new e-column: Lucky talks web design!
until next time, best regards,
Jodie Turner
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 New website launched: NoRush Farm |
Horseplay for healthy hearts & minds!
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 FARMVILLE - "Life and learning, at NoRush Farm," says Sibylle Bechtold, "is an interactive experience. Our teachers come in all shapes and forms: they are two-or-four legged, or they actually may have roots, leaves or blossoms. Above all, however, it is the wisdom of our equines that contributes to a powerful and fun learning experience.
"At NoRush Farm, we pair equines (horses, mules, donkeys) and people to foster personal growth and learning in a safe, but challenging environment.
"Being with horses can help us confront and overcome our perceived limitations, anxieties, habitual patterns and blocked emotions . . . "
Thanks Sibylle for your enthusiastic LuckyDuck testimonial! |
| Lucky talks web design |
Simple re-design tips
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A web site, to be effective, is home to change - in fact - welcomes the opportunity to say something, and do something, different. Re-designing a web site can be as big - or even bigger - a job as starting from scratch. |
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But web site owners can make a big difference with simple changes. Each month, we're going to make a few suggestions based on actual sites we've seen. Mostly, but certainly not only, done by novices. |
Housing key information in image: bad idea!
Web design can be so frustrating! How the end product looks depends on the user's monitor, browser, system . . . Often people want to control the look of their logo/title/page. So they create their key headline or even the entire page on a jpg or gif (image). Sounds like a great idea! But there's a problem (of course) . . . those trusty search engine robots don't see images. Sure, you can include a three or four word description (alt tag) or even a long description of the image, which the 'bots will read, but they don't grab their attention nearly as effectively as a full size headline.
Free those important names and phrases from images! Key them into the code instead!
Size & style of font helps big time!
While on the topic of text. Reading a monitor is not the same as reading hard copy text. It is far more tiring. It's our job to make the task less tiresome because we want our visitors to stay on our sites.
The font you choose is very important with both formats. For print, use "serif fonts" (I had to bump the size from 10pt to 12 pt so you could read Times New Roman.) See those fancy endings to the letters - they help us read text.
For computers, use a "sans serif font" without fancy endings, such as Arial - the font I've chosen for our e-news, or "Verdana" that was designed specifically for computer-use.
Contact us for a detailed, written critique and re-new strategy of, and for, your web site.
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| May Help! |
| Printers Part I |
 BRIDGEWATER - Shaun Swim of Intelligent Choice Computers explores the ins and outs of smart printer shopping in this month's Help! column.
The choices, the uses, the down-side and the up-side of various models. As well as a head's up about a great deal at ICC!
Next month, Part II will cover printer quality and price per page. |
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Salt of the Earth |
| Sustenance Gardens |
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 UNION SQUARE - Bruce Wildsmith, the man behind Sustenance Gardens, didn't set out to be an organic market gardener and meat bird producer.
He holds a Dalhousie University advanced double major degree in International Development studies and sociology. During his time as a student, he felt a growing discomfort with the idea of promoting an agri-business way of life to a third world community. "I didn't want to work with other countries until we have a sustainable model . . . "
Read the rest of his story! |
| Lucky's Photo Page: May 07 |
| Guest photographer returns |
OAKLAND - Remember Rose Hirtle's terrific Eagle Collection? Well she's back - this time with loons - another wonderful set.
I certainly appreciate Rose's photography - as well as her generousity to LuckyDuck and our readers!
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| EDN AGM invites Lucky to talk |
Since 1995, EDN has provided support, inspiration and networking to serve thousands of people with disabilities as they turn ideas of owning a business into reality.
What a fine group of talented people! Special congratulations go to the 2006 Entrepreneur of the Year, Katie's Farm and the 2007 Entrepreneur of the Year Just Sew.
Joan's bowls and vases are beautiful, functional, creative and unique in every way. They are hand made with decorative fabrics, special threads and beads. They are designed and custom-made with love and attention to every detail.
Later this year, our LuckyPal Page will feature Katie's Farm. It's u nique in the pet food industry as Canada's first and only certified organic pet bakery. Katie's Farm is also the only operation to grow its own ingredients. They're in Clam Harbour - and are regulars at the Halifax Farmers Market.
As well as meeting entrepreneurs, LuckyDuck gave a talk on web design - including some critique-and-renewal suggestions for two members' websites.
AGM Organizer Beth Carmichael: "Your talent to engage an audience already in "overtime" mode is a direct reflection of the great presence and communication skills you bring when LuckyDuck Web Design is "on stage". "
Executive Director Brian Aird: "Thank you very much for taking the time to create and deliver such a useful presentation. You were so prepared, and your material was so appropriate that I think EVERYONE learned from you. I know I was constantly thinking of our own web-site as well as the multitude of sites I visit each day - so - thanks for all that you contributed to our event!"
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| Website critique and re-newal strategizing |
| Website 1st aid - as close as an e-mail away! |
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Has your website seen better days?
There's something wrong, but you're not sure what. LuckyDuck web design can not only identify your site's strengths and weaknesses, we can lay out a plan of action that will make all the difference in the world. You will receive a written report and strategy for bringing out the best in your website.
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| Need a computer? . . . Want to recycle a computer? |
reBOOT Canada is a non-profit organization providing computer hardware, training and technical support to charities, non-profits and people with limited access to technology. Since 1996, reBOOT Canada has distributed over 60,000 pieces of computer equipment to charitable organizations across the country.
reBOOT Canada accepts donations of computer equipment from companies and individuals. At any one of their offices they refurbish as much of the equipment as possible. The equipment is made available for distribution to organizations - over 3,000 groups have received equipment from reBOOT Canada by applying to their program and working with them to solve their needs and grow their access to technology.
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| Sheep and goat skins, fine fleece and Lukas' Shearing Services |
Two new pages for Lange's Rock Farm!
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 MAPLEWOOD - Silvia Lange of Lange's Rock Farm produces environmentally friendly, sheepskins as well as goatskins, both from free-range animals. Their Registered Cotswold sheep and Cotswold-mix herds also provide a lustrous wool, fine fleece and good lamb meat.
Lukas' Shearing Services are on the move. Lukas Lange's quality sheep fleece supplies spinners, weavers and fabric artists. He works on the family farm in Maplewood, Nova Scotia or on location. He not only shears sheep, but also angora goats, llamas and alpacas.
Lange's Rock Farm also sells pure wool blankets and throws as well as toys for pets.
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Jodie Turner
LuckyDuck web design
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