diff --git a/app/assets/javascripts/comments.js.coffee b/app/assets/javascripts/comments.js.coffee
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..761567942
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/assets/javascripts/comments.js.coffee
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+# Place all the behaviors and hooks related to the matching controller here.
+# All this logic will automatically be available in application.js.
+# You can use CoffeeScript in this file: http://jashkenas.github.com/coffee-script/
diff --git a/app/controllers/comments_controller.rb b/app/controllers/comments_controller.rb
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e868b041f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/controllers/comments_controller.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,95 @@
+class CommentsController < ApplicationController
+  # GET /comments
+  # GET /comments.json
+  def index
+    @comments = Comment.all
+
+    respond_to do |format|
+      format.html # index.html.erb
+      format.json { render json: @comments }
+    end
+  end
+
+  # GET /comments/1
+  # GET /comments/1.json
+  def show
+    @comment = Comment.find(params[:id])
+
+    respond_to do |format|
+      format.html # show.html.erb
+      format.json { render json: @comment }
+    end
+  end
+
+  # GET /comments/new
+  # GET /comments/new.json
+  def new
+    @comment = Comment.new
+    @post = Post.find_by_id(params[:post_id])
+
+    if @post
+      respond_to do |format|
+        format.html # new.html.erb
+        format.json { render json: @comment }
+      end
+    else
+      redirect_to request.referer || root_url,
+        :alert => "Can't post a comment on a non-existent post"
+    end
+  end
+
+  # GET /comments/1/edit
+  def edit
+    @comment = Comment.find(params[:id])
+  end
+
+  # POST /comments
+  # POST /comments.json
+  def create
+    params[:comment][:author_id] = current_member.id
+    @comment = Comment.new(params[:comment])
+
+    respond_to do |format|
+      if @comment.save
+        format.html { redirect_to @comment, notice: 'Comment was successfully created.' }
+        format.json { render json: @comment, status: :created, location: @comment }
+      else
+        format.html { render action: "new" }
+        format.json { render json: @comment.errors, status: :unprocessable_entity }
+      end
+    end
+  end
+
+  # PUT /comments/1
+  # PUT /comments/1.json
+  def update
+    @comment = Comment.find(params[:id])
+
+    # you should never be able to change the author or post when
+    # updating
+    params[:comment].delete("post_id")
+    params[:comment].delete("author_id")
+
+    respond_to do |format|
+      if @comment.update_attributes(params[:comment])
+        format.html { redirect_to @comment, notice: 'Comment was successfully updated.' }
+        format.json { head :no_content }
+      else
+        format.html { render action: "edit" }
+        format.json { render json: @comment.errors, status: :unprocessable_entity }
+      end
+    end
+  end
+
+  # DELETE /comments/1
+  # DELETE /comments/1.json
+  def destroy
+    @comment = Comment.find(params[:id])
+    @comment.destroy
+
+    respond_to do |format|
+      format.html { redirect_to comments_url }
+      format.json { head :no_content }
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/app/helpers/comments_helper.rb b/app/helpers/comments_helper.rb
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..0ec9ca5f2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/helpers/comments_helper.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+module CommentsHelper
+end
diff --git a/app/models/ability.rb b/app/models/ability.rb
index d80864758..19c89e177 100644
--- a/app/models/ability.rb
+++ b/app/models/ability.rb
@@ -20,12 +20,16 @@ class Ability
       can :update, ScientificName
       can :destroy, ScientificName
 
-      # anyone can create a post, but only the author can edit/destroy
-      # it.
+      # anyone can create a post, or comment on a post,
+      # but only the author can edit/destroy it.
       can :create, Post
       can :update, Post, :author_id => member.id
       can :destroy, Post, :author_id => member.id
 
+      can :create, Comment
+      can :update, Comment, :author_id => member.id
+      can :destroy, Comment, :author_id => member.id
+
       # same deal for gardens and plantings
       can :create, Garden
       can :update, Garden, :owner_id => member.id
diff --git a/app/models/comment.rb b/app/models/comment.rb
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..09f25e13b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/models/comment.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+class Comment < ActiveRecord::Base
+  attr_accessible :author_id, :body, :post_id
+  belongs_to :author, :class_name => 'Member'
+  belongs_to :post
+end
diff --git a/app/models/member.rb b/app/models/member.rb
index 8e33c1fb2..4e26ffcd3 100644
--- a/app/models/member.rb
+++ b/app/models/member.rb
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ class Member < ActiveRecord::Base
   friendly_id :login_name, use: :slugged
 
   has_many :posts,   :foreign_key => 'author_id'
+  has_many :comments, :foreign_key => 'author_id'
   has_many :gardens, :foreign_key => 'owner_id'
 
   # Include default devise modules. Others available are:
diff --git a/app/models/post.rb b/app/models/post.rb
index 564cf5f00..de3c9cdcf 100644
--- a/app/models/post.rb
+++ b/app/models/post.rb
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ class Post < ActiveRecord::Base
   friendly_id :author_date_subject, use: :slugged
   attr_accessible :body, :subject, :author_id
   belongs_to :author, :class_name => 'Member'
+  has_many :comments
   default_scope order("created_at desc")
 
   def author_date_subject
diff --git a/app/views/comments/_form.html.haml b/app/views/comments/_form.html.haml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..cae09db74
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/views/comments/_form.html.haml
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+= form_for @comment do |f|
+  - if @comment.errors.any?
+    #error_explanation
+      %h2= "#{pluralize(@comment.errors.count, "error")} prohibited this comment from being saved:"
+      %ul
+        - @comment.errors.full_messages.each do |msg|
+          %li= msg
+
+  .field
+    = f.label :body
+    = f.text_area :body, :rows => 6, :class => 'input-block-level'
+  .actions
+    = f.submit 'Save'
+  - if defined?(@post)
+    .field
+      = f.hidden_field :post_id, :value => @post.id
diff --git a/app/views/comments/edit.html.haml b/app/views/comments/edit.html.haml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..da858a956
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/views/comments/edit.html.haml
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+%h1 Editing comment
+
+= render 'form'
+
+= link_to 'Show', @comment
+\|
+= link_to 'Back', comments_path
diff --git a/app/views/comments/index.html.haml b/app/views/comments/index.html.haml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..14dffe74e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/views/comments/index.html.haml
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+%h1 Listing comments
+
+%table
+  %tr
+    %th Post
+    %th Author
+    %th Body
+    %th
+    %th
+    %th
+
+  - @comments.each do |comment|
+    %tr
+      %td= comment.post_id
+      %td= comment.author_id
+      %td= comment.body
+      %td= link_to 'Show', comment
+      %td= link_to 'Edit', edit_comment_path(comment)
+      %td= link_to 'Destroy', comment, method: :delete, data: { confirm: 'Are you sure?' }
+
+%br
+
+= link_to 'New Comment', new_comment_path
diff --git a/app/views/comments/new.html.haml b/app/views/comments/new.html.haml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..874b7895b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/views/comments/new.html.haml
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+%h1 New comment
+
+= render 'form'
+
+= link_to 'Back', comments_path
diff --git a/app/views/comments/show.html.haml b/app/views/comments/show.html.haml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..79b7ff31e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/views/comments/show.html.haml
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+%p#notice= notice
+
+%p
+  %b Post:
+  = @comment.post_id
+%p
+  %b Author:
+  = @comment.author_id
+%p
+  %b Body:
+  = @comment.body
+
+= link_to 'Edit', edit_comment_path(@comment)
+\|
+= link_to 'Back', comments_path
diff --git a/app/views/posts/_single.html.haml b/app/views/posts/_single.html.haml
index fa6c40f3e..ab28b3392 100644
--- a/app/views/posts/_single.html.haml
+++ b/app/views/posts/_single.html.haml
@@ -24,3 +24,7 @@
             - if can? :destroy, post
               = link_to 'Delete', post, method: :delete, |
                 data: { confirm: 'Are you sure?' }, :class => 'btn'
+
+        - if can? :create, Comment
+          .post-actions
+            =link_to 'Comment', new_comment_path(:post_id => post.id), :class => 'btn'
diff --git a/config/routes.rb b/config/routes.rb
index 9dd4b7ad0..c3c818b43 100644
--- a/config/routes.rb
+++ b/config/routes.rb
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ Growstuff::Application.routes.draw do
   resources :scientific_names
   resources :crops
   resources :members
+  resources :comments
 
   get "home/index"
 
diff --git a/db/migrate/20130206033956_create_comments.rb b/db/migrate/20130206033956_create_comments.rb
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..6fc9d9279
--- /dev/null
+++ b/db/migrate/20130206033956_create_comments.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+class CreateComments < ActiveRecord::Migration
+  def change
+    create_table :comments do |t|
+      t.integer :post_id
+      t.integer :author_id
+      t.text :body
+
+      t.timestamps
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/db/migrate/20130208034248_require_fields_for_comments.rb b/db/migrate/20130208034248_require_fields_for_comments.rb
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..74c26b4af
--- /dev/null
+++ b/db/migrate/20130208034248_require_fields_for_comments.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+class RequireFieldsForComments < ActiveRecord::Migration
+  def up
+    change_table :comments do |t|
+      t.change :post_id, :string, :null => false
+      t.change :author_id, :string, :null => false
+      t.change :body, :string, :null => false
+    end
+  end
+
+  def down
+    change_table :comments do |t|
+      t.change :post_id, :string, :null => true
+      t.change :author_id, :string, :null => true
+      t.change :body, :string, :null => true
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/db/schema.rb b/db/schema.rb
index 7b1db6ce2..54eca6ad1 100644
--- a/db/schema.rb
+++ b/db/schema.rb
@@ -11,7 +11,15 @@
 #
 # It's strongly recommended to check this file into your version control system.
 
-ActiveRecord::Schema.define(:version => 20130206051328) do
+ActiveRecord::Schema.define(:version => 20130208034248) do
+
+  create_table "comments", :force => true do |t|
+    t.string   "post_id",    :null => false
+    t.string   "author_id",  :null => false
+    t.string   "body",       :null => false
+    t.datetime "created_at", :null => false
+    t.datetime "updated_at", :null => false
+  end
 
   create_table "crops", :force => true do |t|
     t.string   "system_name",      :null => false
diff --git a/spec/controllers/comments_controller_spec.rb b/spec/controllers/comments_controller_spec.rb
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..d8f9a86c9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/controllers/comments_controller_spec.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,149 @@
+require 'spec_helper'
+
+describe CommentsController do
+
+  login_member
+
+  def valid_attributes
+    { :post_id => 1, :author_id => 1, :body => "some text" }
+  end
+
+  describe "GET index" do
+    it "assigns all comments as @comments" do
+      comment = Comment.create! valid_attributes
+      get :index, {}
+      assigns(:comments).should eq([comment])
+    end
+  end
+
+  describe "GET show" do
+    it "assigns the requested comment as @comment" do
+      comment = Comment.create! valid_attributes
+      get :show, {:id => comment.to_param}
+      assigns(:comment).should eq(comment)
+    end
+  end
+
+  describe "GET new" do
+    it "assigns a new comment as @comment" do
+      get :new, {}
+      assigns(:comment).should be_a_new(Comment)
+    end
+
+    it "picks up post from params" do
+      post = FactoryGirl.create(:post)
+      get :new, {:post_id => post.id}
+      assigns(:post).should eq(post)
+    end
+
+    it "dies if no post specified" do
+      get :new
+      response.should redirect_to(root_url)
+    end
+  end
+
+  describe "GET edit" do
+    it "assigns the requested comment as @comment" do
+      comment = Comment.create! valid_attributes
+      get :edit, {:id => comment.to_param}
+      assigns(:comment).should eq(comment)
+    end
+  end
+
+  describe "POST create" do
+    describe "with valid params" do
+      it "creates a new Comment" do
+        expect {
+          post :create, {:comment => valid_attributes}
+        }.to change(Comment, :count).by(1)
+      end
+
+      it "assigns a newly created comment as @comment" do
+        post :create, {:comment => valid_attributes}
+        assigns(:comment).should be_a(Comment)
+        assigns(:comment).should be_persisted
+      end
+
+      it "redirects to the created comment" do
+        post :create, {:comment => valid_attributes}
+        response.should redirect_to(Comment.last)
+      end
+    end
+
+    describe "with invalid params" do
+      it "assigns a newly created but unsaved comment as @comment" do
+        # Trigger the behavior that occurs when invalid params are submitted
+        Comment.any_instance.stub(:save).and_return(false)
+        post :create, {:comment => { "post_id" => "invalid value" }}
+        assigns(:comment).should be_a_new(Comment)
+      end
+
+      it "re-renders the 'new' template" do
+        # Trigger the behavior that occurs when invalid params are submitted
+        Comment.any_instance.stub(:save).and_return(false)
+        post :create, {:comment => { "post_id" => "invalid value" }}
+        response.should render_template("new")
+      end
+    end
+  end
+
+  describe "PUT update" do
+    describe "with valid params" do
+      it "updates the requested comment" do
+        comment = Comment.create! valid_attributes
+        # Assuming there are no other comments in the database, this
+        # specifies that the Comment created on the previous line
+        # receives the :update_attributes message with whatever params are
+        # submitted in the request.
+        Comment.any_instance.should_receive(:update_attributes).with({ "body" => "some text" })
+        put :update, {:id => comment.to_param, :comment => { "body" => "some text" }}
+      end
+
+      it "assigns the requested comment as @comment" do
+        comment = Comment.create! valid_attributes
+        put :update, {:id => comment.to_param, :comment => valid_attributes}
+        assigns(:comment).should eq(comment)
+      end
+
+      it "redirects to the comment" do
+        comment = Comment.create! valid_attributes
+        put :update, {:id => comment.to_param, :comment => valid_attributes}
+        response.should redirect_to(comment)
+      end
+    end
+
+    describe "with invalid params" do
+      it "assigns the comment as @comment" do
+        comment = Comment.create! valid_attributes
+        # Trigger the behavior that occurs when invalid params are submitted
+        Comment.any_instance.stub(:save).and_return(false)
+        put :update, {:id => comment.to_param, :comment => { "post_id" => "invalid value" }}
+        assigns(:comment).should eq(comment)
+      end
+
+      it "re-renders the 'edit' template" do
+        comment = Comment.create! valid_attributes
+        # Trigger the behavior that occurs when invalid params are submitted
+        Comment.any_instance.stub(:save).and_return(false)
+        put :update, {:id => comment.to_param, :comment => { "post_id" => "invalid value" }}
+        response.should render_template("edit")
+      end
+    end
+  end
+
+  describe "DELETE destroy" do
+    it "destroys the requested comment" do
+      comment = Comment.create! valid_attributes
+      expect {
+        delete :destroy, {:id => comment.to_param}
+      }.to change(Comment, :count).by(-1)
+    end
+
+    it "redirects to the comments list" do
+      comment = Comment.create! valid_attributes
+      delete :destroy, {:id => comment.to_param}
+      response.should redirect_to(comments_url)
+    end
+  end
+
+end
diff --git a/spec/factories/comments.rb b/spec/factories/comments.rb
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..404ac5313
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/factories/comments.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+FactoryGirl.define do
+  factory :comment do
+    post
+    author
+    body "OMG LOL"
+  end
+end
diff --git a/spec/models/comment_spec.rb b/spec/models/comment_spec.rb
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..6681fca18
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/models/comment_spec.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+require 'spec_helper'
+
+describe Comment do
+
+  before(:each) do
+    @comment = FactoryGirl.create(:comment)
+  end
+
+  it "belongs to a post" do
+    @comment.post.should be_an_instance_of Post
+  end
+
+  it "belongs to an author" do
+    @comment.author.should be_an_instance_of Member
+  end
+end
diff --git a/spec/models/member_spec.rb b/spec/models/member_spec.rb
index cf5415643..130a6006e 100644
--- a/spec/models/member_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/models/member_spec.rb
@@ -49,6 +49,12 @@ describe 'member' do
       @member.gardens.first.name.should eq "Garden"
     end
 
+    it "has many comments" do
+      @member.save
+      @comment1 = FactoryGirl.create(:comment, :author => @member)
+      @comment2 = FactoryGirl.create(:comment, :author => @member)
+      @member.comments.length.should == 2
+    end
   end
 
   context 'no TOS agreement' do
diff --git a/spec/models/post_spec.rb b/spec/models/post_spec.rb
index 90e7c2cbc..e889322eb 100644
--- a/spec/models/post_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/models/post_spec.rb
@@ -20,4 +20,11 @@ describe Post do
     @datestr.length.should == 4 + @time.year.to_s.size
     @post.slug.should == "#{@member.login_name}-#{@datestr}-a-post"
   end
+
+  it "has many comments" do
+    @post = FactoryGirl.create(:post, :author => @member)
+    @comment1 = FactoryGirl.create(:comment, :post => @post)
+    @comment2 = FactoryGirl.create(:comment, :post => @post)
+    @post.comments.length.should == 2
+  end
 end
diff --git a/spec/requests/comments_spec.rb b/spec/requests/comments_spec.rb
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..7a38a46e8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/requests/comments_spec.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+require 'spec_helper'
+
+describe "Comments" do
+  describe "GET /comments" do
+    it "works! (now write some real specs)" do
+      # Run the generator again with the --webrat flag if you want to use webrat methods/matchers
+      get comments_path
+      response.status.should be(200)
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/spec/routing/comments_routing_spec.rb b/spec/routing/comments_routing_spec.rb
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..73c80563e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/routing/comments_routing_spec.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+require "spec_helper"
+
+describe CommentsController do
+  describe "routing" do
+
+    it "routes to #index" do
+      get("/comments").should route_to("comments#index")
+    end
+
+    it "routes to #new" do
+      get("/comments/new").should route_to("comments#new")
+    end
+
+    it "routes to #show" do
+      get("/comments/1").should route_to("comments#show", :id => "1")
+    end
+
+    it "routes to #edit" do
+      get("/comments/1/edit").should route_to("comments#edit", :id => "1")
+    end
+
+    it "routes to #create" do
+      post("/comments").should route_to("comments#create")
+    end
+
+    it "routes to #update" do
+      put("/comments/1").should route_to("comments#update", :id => "1")
+    end
+
+    it "routes to #destroy" do
+      delete("/comments/1").should route_to("comments#destroy", :id => "1")
+    end
+
+  end
+end
diff --git a/spec/views/comments/edit.html.haml_spec.rb b/spec/views/comments/edit.html.haml_spec.rb
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..b3d496b9e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/views/comments/edit.html.haml_spec.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+require 'spec_helper'
+
+describe "comments/edit" do
+  before(:each) do
+    @comment = assign(:comment, stub_model(Comment,
+      :post_id => 1,
+      :author_id => 1,
+      :body => "MyText"
+    ))
+  end
+
+  it "renders the edit comment form" do
+    render
+
+    # Run the generator again with the --webrat flag if you want to use webrat matchers
+    assert_select "form", :action => comments_path(@comment), :method => "post" do
+      assert_select "input#comment_post_id", :name => "comment[post_id]"
+      assert_select "input#comment_author_id", :name => "comment[author_id]"
+      assert_select "textarea#comment_body", :name => "comment[body]"
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/spec/views/comments/index.html.haml_spec.rb b/spec/views/comments/index.html.haml_spec.rb
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..fe8aa0338
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/views/comments/index.html.haml_spec.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+require 'spec_helper'
+
+describe "comments/index" do
+  before(:each) do
+    assign(:comments, [
+      stub_model(Comment,
+        :post_id => 1,
+        :author_id => 2,
+        :body => "MyText"
+      ),
+      stub_model(Comment,
+        :post_id => 1,
+        :author_id => 2,
+        :body => "MyText"
+      )
+    ])
+  end
+
+  it "renders a list of comments" do
+    render
+    # Run the generator again with the --webrat flag if you want to use webrat matchers
+    assert_select "tr>td", :text => 1.to_s, :count => 2
+    assert_select "tr>td", :text => 2.to_s, :count => 2
+    assert_select "tr>td", :text => "MyText".to_s, :count => 2
+  end
+end
diff --git a/spec/views/comments/new.html.haml_spec.rb b/spec/views/comments/new.html.haml_spec.rb
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..90ab45e86
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/views/comments/new.html.haml_spec.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+require 'spec_helper'
+
+describe "comments/new" do
+  before(:each) do
+    assign(:comment, stub_model(Comment,
+      :post_id => 1,
+      :author_id => 1,
+      :body => "MyText"
+    ).as_new_record)
+  end
+
+  it "renders new comment form" do
+    render
+
+    # Run the generator again with the --webrat flag if you want to use webrat matchers
+    assert_select "form", :action => comments_path, :method => "post" do
+      assert_select "textarea#comment_body", :name => "comment[body]"
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/spec/views/comments/show.html.haml_spec.rb b/spec/views/comments/show.html.haml_spec.rb
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..3760f18ff
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/views/comments/show.html.haml_spec.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+require 'spec_helper'
+
+describe "comments/show" do
+  before(:each) do
+    @comment = assign(:comment, stub_model(Comment,
+      :post_id => 1,
+      :author_id => 2,
+      :body => "MyText"
+    ))
+  end
+
+  it "renders attributes in <p>" do
+    render
+    # Run the generator again with the --webrat flag if you want to use webrat matchers
+    rendered.should match(/1/)
+    rendered.should match(/2/)
+    rendered.should match(/MyText/)
+  end
+end
diff --git a/spec/views/posts/show.html.haml_spec.rb b/spec/views/posts/show.html.haml_spec.rb
index d42cff34a..d4d9979fd 100644
--- a/spec/views/posts/show.html.haml_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/views/posts/show.html.haml_spec.rb
@@ -34,4 +34,19 @@ describe "posts/show" do
     rendered.should_not match(/a href="http:\/\/evil.com"/)
   end
 
+  context "signed in" do
+    before(:each) do
+      sign_in @author
+      controller.stub(:current_user) { @author }
+      @post = assign(:post,
+        FactoryGirl.create(:post, :author => @author))
+      render
+    end
+
+    it 'shows a comment button' do
+      assert_select "a[href=#{new_comment_path(:post_id => @post.id)}]", "Comment"
+    end
+
+  end
+
 end