How I do seeds (circa 2013)

gistfile1.rb

# Running Seeds
# From console (for development/production environmnts)
# $ rake db:seed

# Seeding tests (rspec)
# Create helper method
def load_seed_data
  load "#{Rails.root}/db/seeds.rb" 
end

# Call in before or it blocks
describe "something" do
  before { load_seed_data }
  it { should do_something }
end

it "adds the user as a project owner" do
  load_seed_data
  click_button "Create Project"
  expect(user.project_role(Project.last)).to eql(ProjectRole.first)
end

seeds.rb

#Statuses
['Not Started', 'In Progress', 'On Hold', 'Complete', 'Not Applicable','Closed'].each do |status|
	Status.find_or_create_by(status: status) 
end

#Types
['Enhancement', 'Bug', 'Proposal'].each do |type|
	Type.find_or_create_by(name: type) 
end

#Severities
['Trivial','Minor', 'Major', 'Show Stopper'].each do |severity|
	Severity.find_or_create_by(name: severity) 
end

#Project Roles
['Owner','Collaborator','Viewer','No Access'].each do |role| #Use "No Access" for temporary disabling
  ProjectRole.find_or_create_by(name: role) 
end