diff --git a/app/models/planting.rb b/app/models/planting.rb
index b848d3490..78dcc82b2 100644
--- a/app/models/planting.rb
+++ b/app/models/planting.rb
@@ -78,15 +78,15 @@ class Planting < ActiveRecord::Base
   # return a list of interesting plantings, for the homepage etc.
   # we can't do this via a scope (as far as we know) so sadly we have to
   # do it this way.
-  def Planting.interesting
-    howmany = 12 # max amount to collect
-
+  def Planting.interesting(howmany=12, require_photo=true)
     interesting_plantings = Array.new
     seen_owners = Hash.new(false) # keep track of which owners we've seen already
 
     Planting.all.each do |p|
       break if interesting_plantings.count == howmany # got enough yet?
-      next unless p.interesting?    # skip those that don't have photos
+      if require_photo
+        next unless p.photos.present? # skip those without photos, if required
+      end
       next if seen_owners[p.owner]  # skip if we already have one from this owner
       seen_owners[p.owner] = true   # we've seen this owner
       interesting_plantings.push(p)
diff --git a/spec/models/planting_spec.rb b/spec/models/planting_spec.rb
index eae16cbe5..f791bf5af 100644
--- a/spec/models/planting_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/models/planting_spec.rb
@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@ describe Planting do
     end
   end
 
-  context 'interesting crops' do
+  context 'interesting plantings' do
     it 'picks up interesting plantings' do
       # plantings have members created implicitly for them
       # each member is different, hence these are all interesting
@@ -177,38 +177,63 @@ describe Planting do
       ]
     end
 
-    it 'ignores plantings without photos' do
-      # first, an interesting planting
-      @planting = FactoryGirl.create(:planting)
-      @planting.photos << FactoryGirl.create(:photo)
-      @planting.save
+    context "default arguments" do
+      it 'ignores plantings without photos' do
+        # first, an interesting planting
+        @planting = FactoryGirl.create(:planting)
+        @planting.photos << FactoryGirl.create(:photo)
+        @planting.save
 
-      # this one doesn't have a photo
-      @boring_planting = FactoryGirl.create(:planting)
+        # this one doesn't have a photo
+        @boring_planting = FactoryGirl.create(:planting)
 
-      Planting.interesting.should include @planting
-      Planting.interesting.should_not include @boring_planting
+        Planting.interesting.should include @planting
+        Planting.interesting.should_not include @boring_planting
+      end
+
+      it 'ignores plantings with the same owner' do
+        # this planting is older
+        @planting1 = FactoryGirl.create(:planting, :created_at => 1.day.ago)
+        @planting1.photos << FactoryGirl.create(:photo)
+        @planting1.save
+
+        # this one is newer, and has the same owner, through the garden
+        @planting2 = FactoryGirl.create(:planting,
+          :created_at => 1.minute.ago,
+          :owner_id => @planting1.owner.id
+        )
+        @planting2.photos << FactoryGirl.create(:photo)
+        @planting2.save
+
+        # result: the newer one is interesting, the older one isn't
+        Planting.interesting.should include @planting2
+        Planting.interesting.should_not include @planting1
+      end
     end
 
-    it 'ignores plantings with the same owner' do
-      # this planting is older
-      @planting1 = FactoryGirl.create(:planting, :created_at => 1.day.ago)
-      @planting1.photos << FactoryGirl.create(:photo)
-      @planting1.save
+    context "with require_photo = false" do
+      it "returns plantings without photos" do
+        # first, a planting with a photo
+        @planting = FactoryGirl.create(:planting)
+        @planting.photos << FactoryGirl.create(:photo)
+        @planting.save
 
-      # this one is newer, and has the same owner, through the garden
-      @planting2 = FactoryGirl.create(:planting,
-        :created_at => 1.minute.ago,
-        :owner_id => @planting1.owner.id
-      )
-      @planting2.photos << FactoryGirl.create(:photo)
-      @planting2.save
+        # this one doesn't have a photo
+        @boring_planting = FactoryGirl.create(:planting)
 
-      # result: the newer one is interesting, the older one isn't
-      Planting.interesting.should include @planting2
-      Planting.interesting.should_not include @planting1
+        interesting = Planting.interesting(10, false)
+        interesting.should include @planting
+        interesting.should include @boring_planting
+      end
     end
 
-  end
+    context "with howmany argument" do
+      it "only returns the number asked for" do
+        @plantings = FactoryGirl.create_list(:planting, 10)
+        Planting.interesting(3, false).length.should eq 3
+      end
+    end
+
+  end # interesting plantings
 
 end