diff --git a/spec/controllers/api/v1/plantings_controller_spec.rb b/spec/controllers/api/v1/plantings_controller_spec.rb
index 57b450d94..c187e1213 100644
--- a/spec/controllers/api/v1/plantings_controller_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/controllers/api/v1/plantings_controller_spec.rb
@@ -5,12 +5,6 @@ require 'rails_helper'
 RSpec.describe Api::V1::PlantingsController, type: :controller do
   subject { JSON.parse response.body }
 
-  let(:headers) do
-    {
-      'Accept'       => 'application/vnd.api+json',
-      'Content-Type' => 'application/vnd.api+json'
-    }
-  end
   let!(:member) { FactoryBot.create :member }
 
   describe '#index' do
diff --git a/spec/controllers/charts/gardens_controller_spec.rb b/spec/controllers/charts/gardens_controller_spec.rb
index 250b05358..1eb959b29 100644
--- a/spec/controllers/charts/gardens_controller_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/controllers/charts/gardens_controller_spec.rb
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@ require 'rails_helper'
 
 describe Charts::GardensController do
   include Devise::Test::ControllerHelpers
-  let(:valid_params) { { name: 'My second Garden' } }
 
   let(:garden) { FactoryBot.create :garden }
 
diff --git a/spec/controllers/garden_types_controller_spec.rb b/spec/controllers/garden_types_controller_spec.rb
index 73e59d176..53bc9cae8 100644
--- a/spec/controllers/garden_types_controller_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/controllers/garden_types_controller_spec.rb
@@ -5,9 +5,6 @@ RSpec.describe GardenTypesController, type: :controller do
   let(:valid_params) { { name: 'My second GardenType' } }
   let(:garden_type)  { FactoryBot.create :garden_type   }
 
-  let(:member) { FactoryBot.create(:member) }
-  let(:admin_member) { FactoryBot.create(:admin) }
-
   context "when not signed in" do
     describe 'GET new' do
       before { get :new, params: { id: garden_type.to_param } }
diff --git a/spec/controllers/likes_controller_spec.rb b/spec/controllers/likes_controller_spec.rb
index 5527a595e..6730b0a8f 100644
--- a/spec/controllers/likes_controller_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/controllers/likes_controller_spec.rb
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ describe LikesController do
   let(:like)     { FactoryBot.create :like, member: member  }
   let(:member)   { FactoryBot.create(:member)               }
   let(:blogpost) { FactoryBot.create(:post)                 }
-  let(:mypost)   { FactoryBot.create(:post, author: member) }
 
   before { sign_in member }
 
@@ -22,7 +21,6 @@ describe LikesController do
     end
 
     describe "Liking your own post" do
-      let(:blogpost) { FactoryBot.create(:post, author: member) }
     end
   end
 
diff --git a/spec/features/crops/scientific_name_spec.rb b/spec/features/crops/scientific_name_spec.rb
index 3b525c5c3..a5f206fdd 100644
--- a/spec/features/crops/scientific_name_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/features/crops/scientific_name_spec.rb
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ describe "Scientific names", js: true do
 
   context "User is a crop wrangler" do
     let!(:crop_wranglers) { create_list :crop_wrangling_member, 3 }
-    let(:member) { crop_wranglers.first }
 
     include_context 'signed in crop wrangler' do
       it "Crop wranglers can edit scientific names" do
diff --git a/spec/features/crops/show_spec.rb b/spec/features/crops/show_spec.rb
index bfab353a4..f6fb15410 100644
--- a/spec/features/crops/show_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/features/crops/show_spec.rb
@@ -1,10 +1,7 @@
 require 'rails_helper'
 
 describe "browse crops" do
-  let(:tomato)         { create :tomato        }
-  let(:maize)          { create :maize         }
-  let(:pending_crop)   { create :crop_request  }
-  let(:rejected_crop)  { create :rejected_crop }
+  let(:tomato) { create :tomato }
 
   it "Show crop info" do
     visit crop_path(tomato)
diff --git a/spec/features/harvests/harvesting_a_crop_spec.rb b/spec/features/harvests/harvesting_a_crop_spec.rb
index d3ded52e1..7ad9a285a 100644
--- a/spec/features/harvests/harvesting_a_crop_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/features/harvests/harvesting_a_crop_spec.rb
@@ -4,8 +4,7 @@ require 'custom_matchers'
 describe "Harvesting a crop", :js, :elasticsearch do
   include_context 'signed in member' do
     let!(:maize)      { create :maize }
-    let!(:plant_part) { create :plant_part                           }
-    let(:planting)    { create :planting, crop: maize, owner: member }
+    let!(:plant_part) { create :plant_part }
 
     before { visit new_harvest_path }
 
diff --git a/spec/features/likeable_spec.rb b/spec/features/likeable_spec.rb
index 767bffa07..b2527402a 100644
--- a/spec/features/likeable_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/features/likeable_spec.rb
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 require 'rails_helper'
 
 describe 'Likeable', js: true do
-  let(:member)         { FactoryBot.create(:member)                }
   let(:another_member) { FactoryBot.create(:london_member)         }
   let!(:post)           { FactoryBot.create(:post, author: member) }
   let!(:photo)          { FactoryBot.create(:photo, owner: member) }
diff --git a/spec/features/members/deletion_spec.rb b/spec/features/members/deletion_spec.rb
index 35326a0c9..ce3ff7769 100644
--- a/spec/features/members/deletion_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/features/members/deletion_spec.rb
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@ describe "member deletion" do
     let!(:harvest)        { FactoryBot.create(:harvest, owner: member)     }
     let!(:seed)           { FactoryBot.create(:seed, owner: member)        }
     let!(:secondgarden)   { FactoryBot.create(:garden, owner: member)      }
-    let(:admin)           { FactoryBot.create(:admin_member)               }
 
     before do
       login_as(member)
diff --git a/spec/features/percy/percy_spec.rb b/spec/features/percy/percy_spec.rb
index 6d0a48a3a..01b32539a 100644
--- a/spec/features/percy/percy_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/features/percy/percy_spec.rb
@@ -340,7 +340,6 @@ rest of the garden.
 
   context 'wrangling crops' do
     include_context 'signed in crop wrangler' do
-      let(:prefix) { 'crop-wrangler' }
       let!(:candy) { FactoryBot.create :crop_request, name: 'candy' }
 
       it 'crop wrangling page' do
diff --git a/spec/features/photos/new_photo_spec.rb b/spec/features/photos/new_photo_spec.rb
index 4bf64065e..93e3a155c 100644
--- a/spec/features/photos/new_photo_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/features/photos/new_photo_spec.rb
@@ -1,11 +1,7 @@
 require 'rails_helper'
 
 describe "new photo page" do
-  let(:photo) { FactoryBot.create :photo }
-
   context "signed in member" do
-    let(:member) { FactoryBot.create :member }
-
     include_context 'signed in member' do
       context "viewing a planting" do
         let(:planting) { FactoryBot.create :planting, owner: member }
diff --git a/spec/features/photos/show_photo_spec.rb b/spec/features/photos/show_photo_spec.rb
index 664b24aee..779270b0e 100644
--- a/spec/features/photos/show_photo_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/features/photos/show_photo_spec.rb
@@ -2,8 +2,6 @@ require 'rails_helper'
 
 describe "show photo page" do
   context "signed in member" do
-    let(:member) { create :member }
-
     include_context 'signed in member' do
       context "linked to planting" do
         let(:planting) { create :planting }
diff --git a/spec/features/plantings/planting_a_crop_spec.rb b/spec/features/plantings/planting_a_crop_spec.rb
index 8ff4b2d96..39ee86bd0 100644
--- a/spec/features/plantings/planting_a_crop_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/features/plantings/planting_a_crop_spec.rb
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@ require "rails_helper"
 require 'custom_matchers'
 
 describe "Planting a crop", :js, :elasticsearch do
-  let(:member) { FactoryBot.create :member                }
   let!(:maize) { FactoryBot.create :maize                 }
   let(:garden) { FactoryBot.create :garden, owner: member }
   let!(:planting) do
diff --git a/spec/features/seeds/misc_seeds_spec.rb b/spec/features/seeds/misc_seeds_spec.rb
index 467c1acb3..33c8576c7 100644
--- a/spec/features/seeds/misc_seeds_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/features/seeds/misc_seeds_spec.rb
@@ -1,11 +1,7 @@
 require 'rails_helper'
 
 describe "seeds", js: true do
-  let(:member) { create :member }
-
   context "signed in user" do
-    let(:crop) { create :crop }
-
     include_context 'signed in member' do
       xit "button on index to edit seed" do
         let!(:seed) { create :seed, owner: member }
diff --git a/spec/features/shared_examples/append_date.rb b/spec/features/shared_examples/append_date.rb
index 6f6247736..8dc283c22 100644
--- a/spec/features/shared_examples/append_date.rb
+++ b/spec/features/shared_examples/append_date.rb
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 shared_examples "append date" do
   let(:this_month) { Time.zone.today.strftime("%b") }
-  let(:this_year)  { Time.zone.today.strftime("%Y") }
 
   before { visit path }
 
diff --git a/spec/features/signin_spec.rb b/spec/features/signin_spec.rb
index dd7526549..55e31d4b9 100644
--- a/spec/features/signin_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/features/signin_spec.rb
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ describe "signin", js: true do
   let(:member)       { FactoryBot.create :member                             }
   let(:recipient)    { FactoryBot.create :member                             }
   let(:wrangler)     { FactoryBot.create :crop_wrangling_member              }
-  let(:notification) { FactoryBot.create :notification, recipient: recipient }
 
   def login
     fill_in 'Login', with: member.login_name
diff --git a/spec/features/signout_spec.rb b/spec/features/signout_spec.rb
index c94221b1e..d65370ff6 100644
--- a/spec/features/signout_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/features/signout_spec.rb
@@ -3,8 +3,6 @@ require 'rails_helper'
 describe "signout" do
   let(:member) { create :member }
 
-  let(:path) {}
-
   it "redirect to previous page after signout" do
     visit crops_path # some random page
     click_link 'Sign in'
diff --git a/spec/models/comment_spec.rb b/spec/models/comment_spec.rb
index 687219386..75166df9f 100644
--- a/spec/models/comment_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/models/comment_spec.rb
@@ -14,8 +14,6 @@ describe Comment do
   end
 
   context "notifications" do
-    let(:comment) { FactoryBot.create(:comment) }
-
     it "sends a notification when a comment is posted" do
       expect do
         FactoryBot.create(:comment)
diff --git a/spec/models/crop_spec.rb b/spec/models/crop_spec.rb
index ed17069c9..4b775b4ef 100644
--- a/spec/models/crop_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/models/crop_spec.rb
@@ -1,9 +1,6 @@
 require 'rails_helper'
 
 describe Crop do
-  let(:pp2)   { FactoryBot.create(:plant_part) }
-  let(:pp1)   { FactoryBot.create(:plant_part) }
-  let(:maize) { FactoryBot.create(:maize)      }
   context 'all fields present' do
     let(:crop) { FactoryBot.create(:tomato) }
 
@@ -50,7 +47,6 @@ describe Crop do
   context 'popularity' do
     let(:tomato)   { FactoryBot.create(:tomato)                 }
     let(:maize)    { FactoryBot.create(:maize)                  }
-    let(:cucumber) { FactoryBot.create(:crop, name: 'cucumber') }
 
     before do
       FactoryBot.create_list(:planting, 10, crop: maize)
@@ -145,8 +141,7 @@ describe Crop do
     shared_examples 'has default photo' do
       it { expect(Crop.has_photos).to include(crop) }
     end
-    let!(:crop)  { FactoryBot.create :tomato }
-    let(:member) { FactoryBot.create :member }
+    let!(:crop) { FactoryBot.create :tomato }
 
     context 'with a planting photo' do
       let!(:photo) { FactoryBot.create(:photo, owner: planting.owner) }
@@ -296,7 +291,6 @@ describe Crop do
   context 'interesting' do
     subject { Crop.interesting }
 
-    let(:photo) { FactoryBot.create :photo }
     # first, a couple of candidate crops
     let(:crop1) { FactoryBot.create(:crop) }
     let(:crop2) { FactoryBot.create(:crop) }
@@ -349,13 +343,7 @@ describe Crop do
     end
   end
 
-  let(:maize) { FactoryBot.create(:maize) }
-  let(:pp1) { FactoryBot.create(:plant_part) }
-  let(:pp2) { FactoryBot.create(:plant_part) }
-
   context "harvests" do
-    let(:h1)       { FactoryBot.create(:harvest, crop: maize, plant_part: pp1) }
-    let(:h2)       { FactoryBot.create(:harvest, crop: maize, plant_part: pp2) }
     let!(:crop)    { FactoryBot.create(:crop)                                  }
     let!(:harvest) { FactoryBot.create(:harvest, crop: crop)                   }
 
diff --git a/spec/models/garden_spec.rb b/spec/models/garden_spec.rb
index 522a9bfc1..a6e0b12fb 100644
--- a/spec/models/garden_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/models/garden_spec.rb
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@ require 'rails_helper'
 describe Garden do
   let(:owner)       { FactoryBot.create(:member, login_name: 'hatupatu')                             }
   let(:garden)      { FactoryBot.create(:garden, owner: owner, name: 'Springfield Community Garden') }
-  let(:garden_type) { FactoryBot.create(:garden_type, name: "aquaponic")                             }
 
   it "has a slug" do
     garden.slug.should match(/hatupatu-springfield-community-garden/)
diff --git a/spec/models/planting_spec.rb b/spec/models/planting_spec.rb
index 32d3da008..56e477f4f 100644
--- a/spec/models/planting_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/models/planting_spec.rb
@@ -5,9 +5,6 @@ describe Planting do
   let(:garden_owner) { FactoryBot.create(:member, login_name: 'hatupatu')                                    }
   let(:garden)       { FactoryBot.create(:garden, owner: garden_owner, name: 'Springfield Community Garden') }
   let(:planting)     { FactoryBot.create(:planting, crop: crop, garden: garden, owner: garden.owner)         }
-  let(:finished_planting) do
-    FactoryBot.create :planting, planted_at: 4.days.ago, finished_at: 2.days.ago, finished: true
-  end
 
   describe 'planting lifespan predictions' do
     context 'no predications data yet' do