diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 79aba26..3a1bea6 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -13,7 +13,6 @@
 
 # misc
 .DS_Store
-.env
 .env.local
 .env.development.local
 .env.test.local
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..be710bf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+# Mango Alerts Server
+
+Backend logic for the mango alerts provider
+
+## Usage
+
+Run ```yarn``` to install dependencies
+
+```bash
+yarn
+```
+
+An example ```.env``` file -
+```
+DB_USER=<DB_USER>
+DB_PASS=<DB_PASS>
+DB_HOSTS=<DB_HOST>
+DB=<DB>
+DB_OPTIONS=<DB_OPTIONS>
+PORT=3010
+TWILIO_ACCOUNT_SID=<TWILIO_ACCOUNT_SID>
+TWILIO_AUTH_TOKEN=<TWILIO_AUTH_TOKEN>
+TWILIO_PHONE_NUMBER=<TWILIO_PHONE_NUMBER>
+MAIL_USER=<MAIL_USER>
+MAIL_PASS=<MAIL_PASS>
+TG_TOKEN=<TG_TOKEN>
+```