this seems to mostly work

app/controllers/application_controller.rb

@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 class ApplicationController < ActionController::Base
   protect_from_forgery
-  load_and_authorize_resource
 
   # tweak CanCan defaults because we don't have a "current_user" method
   def current_ability

app/controllers/crops_controller.rb

@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 class CropsController < ApplicationController
+  load_and_authorize_resource
 
   # GET /crops
   # GET /crops.json

app/controllers/gardens_controller.rb

@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 class GardensController < ApplicationController
+  load_and_authorize_resource
   # GET /gardens
   # GET /gardens.json
   def index

app/controllers/home_controller.rb

@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 class HomeController < ApplicationController
+  skip_authorize_resource
   def index
   end
 end

app/controllers/members_controller.rb

@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 class MembersController < ApplicationController
+  load_and_authorize_resource
   def index
     @members = Member.confirmed
 

app/controllers/plantings_controller.rb

@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 class PlantingsController < ApplicationController
+  load_and_authorize_resource
   # GET /plantings
   # GET /plantings.json
   def index

app/controllers/posts_controller.rb

@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 class PostsController < ApplicationController
+  load_and_authorize_resource
   # GET /posts
   # GET /posts.json
 

app/controllers/scientific_names_controller.rb

@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 class ScientificNamesController < ApplicationController
+  load_and_authorize_resource
   # GET /scientific_names
   # GET /scientific_names.json
   def index