diff --git a/.env b/.env
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e91032d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.env
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+# Environment Variables used to configure WMGZON
+
+# ENVIRON: Used to incidicate the type of environment the app is running in.
+# DEFAULT = prod
+
+ENVIRON=prod
+# ENVIRON=test
+
+# App secret used to encrpy client-side cookies
+APPSECRET=test
+
+# Filestore for product photos
+FILESTORE=static/assets/img/products/
diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 3437b95..2e51c26 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -17,7 +17,6 @@ cicd/runner-data
 instance/*
 !instance/.gitignore
 .webassets-cache
-.env
 
 ### Flask.Python Stack ###
 # Byte-compiled / optimized / DLL files