accounts.rb

set_unless[:users] = Mash.new
set_unless[:groups] = Mash.new

alpha_farm.rb

developers Mash.new
developers[:jsmith]       = {:password => '$1$1.UoruVN$SbJ5brbBSHJBHP.GL3Li81', :comment => "Joe Smith", :uid => 9204 }
developers[:bgray] = {:password => '$1$Hjrkl9/v$5UTUjH7jwzwkuRJ65n9Lo/', :comment => "Bill Gray", :uid => 9320 }
set[:users] = developers

alpha_farm.rb

include_recipe 'accounts'

bravo_farm.rb

developers = Mash.new
developers[:holie]       = {:password => '$1$cYwnpTlP$41tKhDPAriNTS1XnqsZYo1', :comment => "Harold Oile", :uid => 4554 }
developers[:dmartin]     = {:password => '$1$A/XPK6ui$jDNphYvk.fsPYnhc/506i/', :comment => "Danielle Martin", :uid => 4885 }
set[:users] = developers

groups = Mash.new
groups[:lamp] = {:gid => 5032, :members => ['holie', 'dmartin']}
set[:groups] = groups 

bravo_farm.rb

include_recipe 'accounts'

default.rb

package 'ruby-shadow'

node[:users].each do |u, config|
  user u do
    comment config[:comment]
    uid config[:uid]
    home "/home/#{u}"
    shell "/bin/bash"
    password config[:password]
    supports :manage_home => false
    action [:create]
  end
end

node[:groups].each do |g, config|
  group g do
    gid config[:gid]
    members config[:members]
    append true
  end
end