diff --git a/app/models/garden.rb b/app/models/garden.rb
index 784bf0aa4..1e2c7faa8 100644
--- a/app/models/garden.rb
+++ b/app/models/garden.rb
@@ -6,7 +6,8 @@ class Garden < ActiveRecord::Base
   belongs_to :user
 
   def garden_slug
-    "#{user.username}-#{name}"
+    formatted_name = name.downcase.gsub(' ', '-')
+    "#{user.username}-#{formatted_name}"
   end
 
   def owner
diff --git a/app/views/members/show.html.haml b/app/views/members/show.html.haml
index 840ff396f..abbc1fea9 100644
--- a/app/views/members/show.html.haml
+++ b/app/views/members/show.html.haml
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
           %li{:class => first_garden ? 'active' : '' }
             - first_garden = false
             = link_to g.name, "#garden#{g.id}", 'data-toggle' => 'tab'
-        %li= link_to 'New garden', '#garden_new', 'data-toggle' => 'tab'
+        %li= link_to 'New Garden', '#garden_new', 'data-toggle' => 'tab'
       .tab-content
         - first_garden = true
         - @member.gardens.each do |g|
diff --git a/spec/factories/crop.rb b/spec/factories/crop.rb
index 88eb6af2d..978df4bb8 100644
--- a/spec/factories/crop.rb
+++ b/spec/factories/crop.rb
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 FactoryGirl.define do
 
   factory :crop do
+    system_name "Magic bean"
+    en_wikipedia_url "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic_bean"
 
     factory :tomato do
       system_name "Tomato"
diff --git a/spec/factories/garden.rb b/spec/factories/garden.rb
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..3581fc290
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/factories/garden.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+FactoryGirl.define do
+  factory :garden do
+    name 'My Garden'
+    user
+  end
+end
diff --git a/spec/factories/planting.rb b/spec/factories/planting.rb
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f8fb5e4b0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/factories/planting.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+FactoryGirl.define do
+  factory :planting do
+    garden
+    crop
+    planted_at Time.now
+    quantity 3
+    description "This is a *really* good plant."
+  end
+end
diff --git a/spec/factories/update.rb b/spec/factories/update.rb
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..735b3e0e7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/factories/update.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+FactoryGirl.define do
+
+  factory :update do
+    subject "An Update"
+    body "This is some text."
+    user
+
+    # Markdown is allowed in updates
+    factory :markdown_update do
+      body "This is some **strong** text."
+    end
+
+    # HTML isn't allowed in updates
+    factory :html_update do
+      body '<a href="http://evil.com">EVIL</a>'
+    end
+  end
+
+end
diff --git a/spec/factories/user.rb b/spec/factories/user.rb
index d5d3dc5cb..54124fc73 100644
--- a/spec/factories/user.rb
+++ b/spec/factories/user.rb
@@ -1,13 +1,25 @@
 FactoryGirl.define do
 
   factory :user do
-    username "user1"
-    password "password1"
-    email "user1@example.com"
+    username 'user1'
+    password 'password1'
+    email 'user1@example.com'
     tos_agreement true
+    confirmed_at Time.now()
 
-    factory :confirmed_user do
-      confirmed_at Time.now()
+    factory :no_tos_user do
+      tos_agreement false
+      email 'notos@example.com'
+    end
+
+    factory :unconfirmed_user do
+      confirmed_at nil
+      email 'confirmed@example.com'
+    end
+
+    factory :long_name_user do
+      username 'Marmaduke Blundell-Hollinshead-Blundell-Tolemache-Plantagenet-Whistlebinkie, 3rd Duke of Marmoset'
+      email 'marmaduke@example.com'
     end
 
   end
diff --git a/spec/models/garden_spec.rb b/spec/models/garden_spec.rb
index 53a39892b..81c95fe4c 100644
--- a/spec/models/garden_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/models/garden_spec.rb
@@ -2,14 +2,12 @@ require 'spec_helper'
 
 describe Garden do
   before :each do
-    @user = mock_model(User)
-    @user.stub!(:username).and_return("test1")
-    @garden = Garden.new(:name => "my garden")
-    @garden.user = @user
+    @user   = FactoryGirl.create(:user)
+    @garden = FactoryGirl.create(:garden, :user => @user)
   end
 
   it "should have a slug" do
-    @garden.garden_slug.should == "test1-my garden"
+    @garden.garden_slug.should == "user1-my-garden"
   end
 
   it "should have an owner" do
diff --git a/spec/models/planting_spec.rb b/spec/models/planting_spec.rb
index 09b90ced3..24d09bd6f 100644
--- a/spec/models/planting_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/models/planting_spec.rb
@@ -3,38 +3,20 @@ require 'spec_helper'
 describe Planting do
 
   before(:each) do
-    @crop = Crop.create(
-      :system_name => "Tomato",
-      :en_wikipedia_url => "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomato"
-    )
-
-    @user = User.create!(
-      :username => 'foo',
-      :password => 'irrelevant',
-      :email => 'foo@example.com',
-      :tos_agreement => true
-    )
-    @user.confirm!
-
-    @garden = Garden.create(
-      :user_id => @user.id,
-      :name => 'bar'
-    )
-
-    @planting = Planting.create(
-      :garden_id => @garden.id,
-      :crop_id => @crop.id
-    )
-
+    @crop     = FactoryGirl.create(:tomato)
+    @user     = FactoryGirl.create(:user)
+    @garden   = FactoryGirl.create(:garden, :user => @user)
+    @planting = FactoryGirl.create(:planting,
+        :crop => @crop, :garden => @garden)
   end
 
   it "generates an owner" do
     @planting.owner.should be_an_instance_of User
-    @planting.owner.username.should match /^foo$/
+    @planting.owner.username.should match /^user1$/
   end
 
   it "generates a location" do
-    @planting.location.should match /^foo's bar$/
+    @planting.location.should match /^user1's My Garden$/
   end
 
 end
diff --git a/spec/models/update_spec.rb b/spec/models/update_spec.rb
index db5d642eb..bb1eea97b 100644
--- a/spec/models/update_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/models/update_spec.rb
@@ -2,26 +2,22 @@ require 'spec_helper'
 
 describe Update do
   before(:each) do
-    user = User.create! :username => "test", :password => "password",
-      :email => "test@example.com", :tos_agreement => true
-    user.confirm!
-    @id = user.id
+    @user = FactoryGirl.create(:user)
   end
 
   it "should be sorted in reverse order" do
-    Update.create! :subject => "first entry", :body => "blah", :user_id => @id
-    Update.create! :subject => "second entry", :body => "blah", :user_id => @id
+    FactoryGirl.create(:update, :subject => 'first entry', :user => @user)
+    FactoryGirl.create(:update, :subject => 'second entry', :user => @user)
     Update.first.subject.should == "second entry"
   end
 
   it "should have a slug" do
-    update = Update.create! :subject => "slugs are nasty",
-      :body => "They leave slime everywhere", :user_id => @id
-    time = update.created_at
-    datestr = time.strftime("%Y%m%d")
+    @update = FactoryGirl.create(:update, :user => @user)
+    @time = @update.created_at
+    @datestr = @time.strftime("%Y%m%d")
     # 2 digit day and month, full-length years
     # Counting digits using Math.log is not precise enough!
-    datestr.length.should == 4 + time.year.to_s.size
-    update.slug.should == "test-#{datestr}-slugs-are-nasty"
+    @datestr.length.should == 4 + @time.year.to_s.size
+    @update.slug.should == "#{@user.username}-#{@datestr}-an-update"
   end
 end
diff --git a/spec/models/user_spec.rb b/spec/models/user_spec.rb
index 5bc9a6712..f15d13e4a 100644
--- a/spec/models/user_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/models/user_spec.rb
@@ -4,12 +4,7 @@ describe 'user' do
 
   context 'valid user' do
     before(:each) do
-      @user = User.create(
-        :email => "example@example.com",
-        :username => "someone",
-        :password => "irrelevant",
-        :tos_agreement => true
-      )
+      @user = FactoryGirl.create(:user)
     end
 
     it 'should save a basic user' do
@@ -18,10 +13,10 @@ describe 'user' do
 
     it 'should be fetchable from the database' do
       @user.save
-      @user2 = User.find_by_email('example@example.com')
-      @user2.username.should == "someone"
-      @user2.email.should    == "example@example.com"
-      @user2.slug.should     == "someone"
+      @user2 = User.find_by_email('user1@example.com')
+      @user2.username.should == "user1"
+      @user2.email.should    == "user1@example.com"
+      @user2.slug.should     == "user1"
       @user2.encrypted_password.should_not be_nil
     end
 
@@ -31,18 +26,14 @@ describe 'user' do
     end
 
     it 'should stringify as the username' do
-      @user.to_s.should == 'someone'
-      "#{@user}".should == 'someone'
+      @user.to_s.should == 'user1'
+      "#{@user}".should == 'user1'
     end
   end
 
   context 'no TOS agreement' do
     before(:each) do
-      @user = User.create(
-        :email => "example@example.com",
-        :username => "someone",
-        :password => "irrelevant"
-      )
+      @user = FactoryGirl.build(:no_tos_user)
     end
 
     it "should refuse to save a user who hasn't agreed to the TOS" do
diff --git a/spec/views/crops/edit.html.haml_spec.rb b/spec/views/crops/edit.html.haml_spec.rb
index c400c83a0..e513f8d8e 100644
--- a/spec/views/crops/edit.html.haml_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/views/crops/edit.html.haml_spec.rb
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ describe "crops/edit" do
 
   context "logged in" do
     before(:each) do
-      @user = FactoryGirl.create(:confirmed_user)
+      @user = FactoryGirl.create(:user)
       sign_in @user
       render
     end
diff --git a/spec/views/crops/new.html.haml_spec.rb b/spec/views/crops/new.html.haml_spec.rb
index d92ef4fb0..47c41b90b 100644
--- a/spec/views/crops/new.html.haml_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/views/crops/new.html.haml_spec.rb
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ describe "crops/new" do
   context "logged in" do
 
     before(:each) do
-      @user = FactoryGirl.create(:confirmed_user)
+      @user = FactoryGirl.create(:user)
       sign_in @user
       render
     end
diff --git a/spec/views/gardens/edit.html.haml_spec.rb b/spec/views/gardens/edit.html.haml_spec.rb
index 738616758..6533de89d 100644
--- a/spec/views/gardens/edit.html.haml_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/views/gardens/edit.html.haml_spec.rb
@@ -11,17 +11,9 @@ describe "gardens/edit" do
 
   context "logged in" do
     before(:each) do
-      @user = User.create(:email => "growstuff@example.com",
-                          :password => "irrelevant")
-      @user.confirm!
+      @user = FactoryGirl.create(:user)
       sign_in @user
-
-      @garden = assign(:garden, stub_model(Garden,
-        :name => "MyString",
-        :user_id => @user.id,
-        :slug => "MyString"
-      ))
-
+      @garden = assign(:garden, FactoryGirl.create(:garden, :user => @user))
       render
     end
 
diff --git a/spec/views/gardens/index.html.haml_spec.rb b/spec/views/gardens/index.html.haml_spec.rb
index 6da0c96f7..d657a8970 100644
--- a/spec/views/gardens/index.html.haml_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/views/gardens/index.html.haml_spec.rb
@@ -2,25 +2,17 @@ require 'spec_helper'
 
 describe "gardens/index" do
   before(:each) do
+    @user = FactoryGirl.create(:user)
     assign(:gardens, [
-      stub_model(Garden,
-        :name => "Name",
-        :user_id => "",
-        :slug => "Slug"
-      ),
-      stub_model(Garden,
-        :name => "Name",
-        :user_id => "",
-        :slug => "Slug"
-      )
+      FactoryGirl.create(:garden, :user => @user),
+      FactoryGirl.create(:garden, :user => @user)
     ])
   end
 
   it "renders a list of gardens" do
     render
     # Run the generator again with the --webrat flag if you want to use webrat matchers
-    assert_select "tr>td", :text => "Name".to_s, :count => 2
-    assert_select "tr>td", :text => "".to_s, :count => 2
-    assert_select "tr>td", :text => "Slug".to_s, :count => 2
+    assert_select "tr>td", :text => "My Garden".to_s, :count => 2
   end
+
 end
diff --git a/spec/views/gardens/new.html.haml_spec.rb b/spec/views/gardens/new.html.haml_spec.rb
index aca4be29e..a7cc596ab 100644
--- a/spec/views/gardens/new.html.haml_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/views/gardens/new.html.haml_spec.rb
@@ -2,11 +2,7 @@ require 'spec_helper'
 
 describe "gardens/new" do
   before(:each) do
-    assign(:garden, stub_model(Garden,
-      :name => "MyString",
-      :user_id => "",
-      :slug => "MyString"
-    ).as_new_record)
+    assign(:garden, FactoryGirl.create(:garden))
   end
 
   it "renders new garden form" do
diff --git a/spec/views/gardens/show.html.haml_spec.rb b/spec/views/gardens/show.html.haml_spec.rb
index 6e73eb0a9..a2d20875e 100644
--- a/spec/views/gardens/show.html.haml_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/views/gardens/show.html.haml_spec.rb
@@ -2,17 +2,8 @@ require 'spec_helper'
 
 describe "gardens/show" do
   before(:each) do
-    @user = User.create(
-        :username => 'foo',
-        :email => 'foo@example.com',
-        :password => 'irrelevant',
-        :tos_agreement => true
-    )
-    @user.confirm!
-    @garden = assign(:garden, stub_model(Garden,
-      :name => "Garden Name",
-      :user_id => @user.id
-    ))
+    @user = FactoryGirl.create(:user)
+    @garden = assign(:garden, FactoryGirl.create(:garden, :user => @user))
   end
 
   context 'logged out' do
diff --git a/spec/views/members/index.html.haml_spec.rb b/spec/views/members/index.html.haml_spec.rb
index 85fd35fbf..e3c267fa4 100644
--- a/spec/views/members/index.html.haml_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/views/members/index.html.haml_spec.rb
@@ -3,18 +3,8 @@ require 'spec_helper'
 describe "members/index" do
   before(:each) do
     assign(:members, [
-      User.create!(
-        :username => "Marmaduke Blundell-Hollinshead-Blundell-Tolemache-Plantagenet-Whistlebinkie, 3rd Duke of Marmoset",
-        :password => "ilikehorses",
-        :email => "binky@example.com",
-        :tos_agreement => true
-      ),
-      User.create!(
-        :username => "bob",
-        :password => "password",
-        :email => "bob@example.com",
-        :tos_agreement => true
-      )
+      FactoryGirl.create(:user),
+      FactoryGirl.create(:long_name_user)
     ])
     render
   end
@@ -24,10 +14,10 @@ describe "members/index" do
   end
 
   it "does not truncate short names" do
-    rendered.should contain "bob"
-    rendered.should_not contain "bob..."
+    rendered.should contain "user1"
+    rendered.should_not contain "user1..."
   end
-  
+
   it "counts the number of members" do
     rendered.should contain "Displaying 2 members"
   end
@@ -35,5 +25,5 @@ describe "members/index" do
   it "contains two gravatar icons" do
     assert_select "img", :src => /gravatar\.com\/avatar/, :count => 2
   end
-  
+
 end
diff --git a/spec/views/members/show.html.haml_spec.rb b/spec/views/members/show.html.haml_spec.rb
index 3773192f8..be1483e6b 100644
--- a/spec/views/members/show.html.haml_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/views/members/show.html.haml_spec.rb
@@ -1,15 +1,12 @@
 require 'spec_helper'
 
 describe "members/show" do
+
   before(:each) do
-    @member = User.create!(
-      :username => "pie",
-      :password => "steak&kidney",
-      :email => "steak-and-kidney@pie.com",
-      :tos_agreement => true
-    )
+    @member = FactoryGirl.create(:user)
     @time = @member.created_at
-    @member.gardens.create(:name => 'My Garden', :user_id => @member.id)
+
+    # need @garden to render the page
     @garden = Garden.new
     render
   end
@@ -23,4 +20,32 @@ describe "members/show" do
     assert_select "img", :src => /gravatar\.com\/avatar/
   end
 
+  context "no gardens" do
+    it "shouldn't mention the name of a garden" do
+      rendered.should_not contain "My Garden"
+    end
+  end
+
+  context "signed in user" do
+    before(:each) do
+      sign_in @member
+      render
+    end
+
+    it "contains a 'New Garden' link" do
+      assert_select "a[href=#garden_new]", :text => "New Garden"
+    end
+  end
+
+  context "user has a garden" do
+    before(:each) do
+      @member.gardens.create(:name => 'My Garden', :user_id => @member.id)
+      render
+    end
+
+    it "displays a garden, if the user has one" do
+      rendered.should contain "My Garden"
+    end
+  end
+
 end
diff --git a/spec/views/plantings/edit.html.haml_spec.rb b/spec/views/plantings/edit.html.haml_spec.rb
index ad48f1570..27d27f977 100644
--- a/spec/views/plantings/edit.html.haml_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/views/plantings/edit.html.haml_spec.rb
@@ -18,20 +18,12 @@ describe "plantings/edit" do
     )
     @wrong_user.confirm!
 
-    @garden = assign(:garden, stub_model(Garden,
-      :id => 1,
-      :user => @right_user,
-      :name => "Blah"
-    ))
-    @planting = assign(:planting, stub_model(Planting,
-      :garden_id => 1,
-      :crop_id => 1,
-      :quantity => 1,
-      :description => "MyText"
-    ))
+    @crop = FactoryGirl.create(:crop)
+    @garden = FactoryGirl.create(:garden, :user => @right_user)
 
-    assign(:crop, Crop.new)
-    assign(:garden, Garden.new)
+    @planting = assign(:planting,
+      FactoryGirl.create(:planting, :garden => @garden, :crop => @crop)
+    )
 
   end
 
@@ -61,9 +53,6 @@ describe "plantings/edit" do
     end
 
     it "renders the edit planting form" do
-      render
-
-      # Run the generator again with the --webrat flag if you want to use webrat matchers
       assert_select "form", :action => plantings_path(@planting), :method => "post" do
         assert_select "select#planting_garden_id", :name => "planting[garden_id]"
         assert_select "select#planting_crop_id", :name => "planting[crop_id]"
diff --git a/spec/views/plantings/index.html.haml_spec.rb b/spec/views/plantings/index.html.haml_spec.rb
index a56770400..2f259bb2f 100644
--- a/spec/views/plantings/index.html.haml_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/views/plantings/index.html.haml_spec.rb
@@ -2,38 +2,20 @@ require 'spec_helper'
 
 describe "plantings/index" do
   before(:each) do
-    @user = assign(:user, stub_model(User,
-      :id => 23,
-      :username => 'blah',
-      :password => 'blahblah',
-      :tos_agreement => true
-    ))
-    @garden = assign(:garden, stub_model(Garden,
-      :id => 42,
-      :user => @user,
-      :name => "My Awesome Allotment"
-    ))
-    @crop = assign(:crop, stub_model(Crop,
-      :id => 98,
-      :system_name => "Tomato"
-    ))
-    @crop2 = assign(:crop, stub_model(Crop,
-      :id => 99,
-      :system_name => "Maize"
-    ))
-    assign(:recent_plantings, [ stub_model(Planting,
+    @user   = FactoryGirl.create(:user)
+    @garden = FactoryGirl.create(:garden, :user => @user)
+    @tomato = FactoryGirl.create(:tomato)
+    @maize  = FactoryGirl.create(:maize)
+    assign(:recent_plantings, [
+      FactoryGirl.create(:planting,
         :garden => @garden,
-        :crop => @crop,
-        :planted_at => '2008-01-05 12:34:56',
-        :quantity => 3,
-        :description => "MyText *ITALIC*",
-        :created_at => Time.now
+        :crop => @tomato
       ),
-      stub_model(Planting,
+      FactoryGirl.create(:planting,
         :garden => @garden,
-        :crop => @crop2,
+        :crop => @maize,
         :description => '',
-        :created_at => Time.now
+        :planted_at => '2013-01-13 01:25:34'
       )
     ])
     render
@@ -42,11 +24,11 @@ describe "plantings/index" do
   it "renders a list of plantings" do
     rendered.should contain 'Tomato'
     rendered.should contain 'Maize'
-    rendered.should contain "blah's My Awesome Allotment"
+    rendered.should contain "user1's My Garden"
   end
 
   it "shows descriptions where they exist" do
-    rendered.should contain "MyText"
+    rendered.should contain "This is a"
   end
 
   it "shows filler when there is no description" do
@@ -54,11 +36,11 @@ describe "plantings/index" do
   end
 
   it "displays planting time" do
-    rendered.should contain '2008-01-05 12:34:56'
+    rendered.should contain '2013-01-13 01:25:34'
   end
 
   it "renders markdown in the description" do
-    assert_select "em", "ITALIC"
+    assert_select "em", "really"
   end
 
 end
diff --git a/spec/views/plantings/new.html.haml_spec.rb b/spec/views/plantings/new.html.haml_spec.rb
index 848a1961f..468b3d067 100644
--- a/spec/views/plantings/new.html.haml_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/views/plantings/new.html.haml_spec.rb
@@ -2,12 +2,16 @@ require 'spec_helper'
 
 describe "plantings/new" do
   before(:each) do
-    assign(:planting, stub_model(Planting,
-      :garden_id => 1,
-      :crop_id => 1,
-      :quantity => 1,
-      :description => "MyText"
-    ).as_new_record)
+    @user = FactoryGirl.create(:user)
+
+    # create gardens and crops to populate dropdowns
+    @garden1 = FactoryGirl.create(:garden, :user => @user, :name => 'Garden1')
+    @garden2 = FactoryGirl.create(:garden, :user => @user, :name => 'Garden2')
+    @crop1 = FactoryGirl.create(:tomato)
+    @crop2 = FactoryGirl.create(:maize)
+
+    assign(:planting, FactoryGirl.create(:planting, :garden => @garden1))
+
   end
 
   context "logged out" do
@@ -19,37 +23,9 @@ describe "plantings/new" do
 
   context "logged in" do
     before(:each) do
-      @user = User.create(:email => "growstuff@example.com",
-                          :password => "irrelevant")
-      @user.confirm!
       sign_in @user
-
-      # create gardens and crops to populate dropdowns
-      @garden1 = Garden.create!(
-        :user_id => @user.id,
-        :name => 'Garden1'
-      )
-      @garden2 = Garden.create!(
-        :user_id => @user.id,
-        :name => 'Garden2'
-      )
-
-      @crop1 = Crop.create!(
-        :system_name => 'Tomato',
-        :en_wikipedia_url => 'http://blah'
-      )
-      @crop2 = Crop.create!(
-        :system_name => 'Corn',
-        :en_wikipedia_url => 'http://blah'
-      )
-      @crop3 = Crop.create!(
-        :system_name => 'Chard',
-        :en_wikipedia_url => 'http://blah'
-      )
-
       assign(:crop, @crop2)
       assign(:garden, @garden2)
-
       render
     end
 
diff --git a/spec/views/plantings/show.html.haml_spec.rb b/spec/views/plantings/show.html.haml_spec.rb
index 13640d4f9..1af1abab9 100644
--- a/spec/views/plantings/show.html.haml_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/views/plantings/show.html.haml_spec.rb
@@ -2,39 +2,24 @@ require 'spec_helper'
 
 describe "plantings/show" do
   before(:each) do
-    @user = assign(:user, stub_model(User,
-      :id => 23,
-      :username => 'blah',
-      :password => 'blahblah',
-      :tos_agreement => true
-    ))
-    @garden = assign(:garden, stub_model(Garden,
-      :id => 42,
-      :user => @user,
-      :name => "My Awesome Allotment"
-    ))
-    @crop = assign(:crop, stub_model(Crop,
-      :id => 99,
-      :system_name => "Tomato"
-    ))
-    @planting = assign(:planting, stub_model(Planting,
-      :garden => @garden,
-      :crop => @crop,
-      :quantity => 333,
-      :description => "MyText *ITALIC*"
-    ))
+    @user = FactoryGirl.create(:user)
+    @garden = FactoryGirl.create(:garden, :user => @user)
+    @crop = FactoryGirl.create(:tomato)
+    @planting = assign(:planting,
+      FactoryGirl.create(:planting, :garden => @garden, :crop => @crop)
+    )
     render
   end
 
   it "renders the quantity planted" do
-    rendered.should match(/333/)
+    rendered.should match(/3/)
   end
 
   it "renders the description" do
-    rendered.should match(/MyText/)
+    rendered.should match(/This is a/)
   end
 
   it "renders markdown in the description" do
-    assert_select "em", "ITALIC"
+    assert_select "em", "really"
   end
 end
diff --git a/spec/views/scientific_names/edit.html.haml_spec.rb b/spec/views/scientific_names/edit.html.haml_spec.rb
index 938f88c09..541136fcb 100644
--- a/spec/views/scientific_names/edit.html.haml_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/views/scientific_names/edit.html.haml_spec.rb
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ describe "scientific_names/edit" do
 
   context "logged in" do
     before(:each) do
-      @user = FactoryGirl.create(:confirmed_user)
+      @user = FactoryGirl.create(:user)
       sign_in @user
       render
     end
diff --git a/spec/views/scientific_names/new.html.haml_spec.rb b/spec/views/scientific_names/new.html.haml_spec.rb
index 8d79f0d0c..9db18fa8d 100644
--- a/spec/views/scientific_names/new.html.haml_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/views/scientific_names/new.html.haml_spec.rb
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ describe "scientific_names/new" do
 
   context "logged in" do
     before(:each) do
-      @user = FactoryGirl.create(:confirmed_user)
+      @user = FactoryGirl.create(:user)
       sign_in @user
       render
     end
diff --git a/spec/views/updates/edit.html.haml_spec.rb b/spec/views/updates/edit.html.haml_spec.rb
index 14ee25f2c..1d7c28d90 100644
--- a/spec/views/updates/edit.html.haml_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/views/updates/edit.html.haml_spec.rb
@@ -2,12 +2,8 @@ require 'spec_helper'
 
 describe "updates/edit" do
   before(:each) do
-    @update = assign(:update, stub_model(Update,
-      :user_id => 1,
-      :subject => "MyString",
-      :body => "MyText",
-      :created_at => Time.now
-    ))
+    @user = FactoryGirl.create(:user)
+    @update = assign(:update, FactoryGirl.create(:update, :user => @user))
   end
 
   context "logged out" do
@@ -19,16 +15,11 @@ describe "updates/edit" do
 
   context "logged in" do
     before(:each) do
-      @user = User.create(:email => "growstuff@example.com",
-                          :password => "irrelevant")
-      @user.confirm!
       sign_in @user
       render
     end
 
     it "renders the edit update form" do
-      render
-
       assert_select "form", :action => updates_path(@update), :method => "post" do
         assert_select "input#update_subject", :name => "update[subject]"
         assert_select "textarea#update_body", :name => "update[body]"
diff --git a/spec/views/updates/index.html.haml_spec.rb b/spec/views/updates/index.html.haml_spec.rb
index 7ee885924..03552126d 100644
--- a/spec/views/updates/index.html.haml_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/views/updates/index.html.haml_spec.rb
@@ -2,34 +2,18 @@ require 'spec_helper'
 
 describe "updates/index" do
   before(:each) do
-    user = User.create!(
-      :username => "test_user",
-      :email => "test@growstuff.org",
-      :password => "password",
-      :tos_agreement => true
-    )
-    assign(:updates, [
-      stub_model(Update,
-        :user_id => user.id,
-        :subject => "Subject",
-        :body => "MyText",
-        :created_at => Time.now
-      ),
-      stub_model(Update,
-        :user_id => user.id,
-        :subject => "Subject",
-        :body => "MyText",
-        :created_at => Time.now
-      )
-    ])
+    @member = FactoryGirl.create(:user)
+    @update1 = FactoryGirl.build(:update, :user => @member)
+    @update2 = FactoryGirl.build(:update, :user => @member)
+    assign(:updates, [@update1, @update2])
     render
   end
 
   it "renders a list of updates" do
     assert_select "div.update", :count => 2
-    assert_select "h3", :text => "Subject".to_s, :count => 2
+    assert_select "h3", :text => "An Update".to_s, :count => 2
     assert_select "div.update-body",
-      :text => "MyText".to_s, :count => 2
+      :text => "This is some text.".to_s, :count => 2
   end
 
   it "counts the number of updates" do
diff --git a/spec/views/updates/new.html.haml_spec.rb b/spec/views/updates/new.html.haml_spec.rb
index 84d3ed429..611a4a7e3 100644
--- a/spec/views/updates/new.html.haml_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/views/updates/new.html.haml_spec.rb
@@ -2,11 +2,8 @@ require 'spec_helper'
 
 describe "updates/new" do
   before(:each) do
-    assign(:update, stub_model(Update,
-      :user_id => 1,
-      :subject => "MyString",
-      :body => "MyText"
-    ).as_new_record)
+    @user = FactoryGirl.create(:user)
+    assign(:update, FactoryGirl.create(:update, :user => @user))
   end
 
   context "logged out" do
@@ -18,9 +15,6 @@ describe "updates/new" do
 
   context "logged in" do
     before(:each) do
-      @user = User.create(:email => "growstuff@example.com",
-                          :password => "irrelevant")
-      @user.confirm!
       sign_in @user
       render
     end
diff --git a/spec/views/updates/show.html.haml_spec.rb b/spec/views/updates/show.html.haml_spec.rb
index a35266b52..796074a9a 100644
--- a/spec/views/updates/show.html.haml_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/views/updates/show.html.haml_spec.rb
@@ -2,55 +2,35 @@ require 'spec_helper'
 
 describe "updates/show" do
   before(:each) do
-    @user = User.create!(
-      :username => "test_user",
-      :email => "test@example.com",
-      :password => "password",
-      :tos_agreement => true
-    )
+    @user = FactoryGirl.create(:user)
   end
 
   it "renders the post" do
-    @update = assign(:update, stub_model(Update,
-      :user_id => @user.id,
-      :subject => "Subject",
-      :body => "MyText"
-    ))
+    @update = assign(:update,
+      FactoryGirl.create(:update, :user => @user))
     render
-    rendered.should match(/test_user/)
+    # show the name of the member who posted the update
+    rendered.should match(/user1/)
     # Subject goes in title
-    rendered.should match(/MyText/)
+    rendered.should match(/This is some text./)
+    # shouldn't show the subject on a single post page
+    # (it appears in the title/h1 via the layout, not via this view)
+    rendered.should_not match(/An Update/)
   end
 
   it "should parse markdown into html" do
-    @update = assign(:update, stub_model(Update,
-      :user_id => @user.id,
-      :subject => "Subject",
-      :body => "**strong**"
-    ))
+    @update = assign(:update,
+      FactoryGirl.create(:markdown_update, :user => @user))
     render
-    rendered.should match(/<strong>strong<\/strong>/)
+    assert_select "strong", "strong"
   end
 
   it "shouldn't let html through in body" do
-    @update = assign(:update, stub_model(Update,
-      :user_id => @user.id,
-      :subject => "<b>Subject<b>",
-      :body => '<a href="http://evil.com">EVIL</a>'
-    ))
+    @update = assign(:update,
+      FactoryGirl.create(:html_update, :user => @user))
     render
     rendered.should match(/EVIL/)
     rendered.should_not match(/a href="http:\/\/evil.com"/)
   end
 
-  it "shouldn't show the subject on the single update page" do
-    @update = assign(:update, stub_model(Update,
-      :user_id => @user.id,
-      :subject => "<b>Subject<b>",
-      :body => '<a href="http://evil.com">EVIL</a>'
-    ))
-    render
-    rendered.should_not match(/Subject/)
-  end
-
 end