diff --git a/.env b/.env
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..d83e5b4d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.env
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+APOS_MONGODB_URI=mongodb://<user>:<pass>@localhost:27017/<db>?authSource=<auth_db>
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index b58178c1..9270399f 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@
 
 Install dependencies: `npm install`
 
+Enter your MongoDB connection URI in `.env`
+
 ## Running the project
 
 Run `npm run dev` to build the Apostrophe UI and start the site up. Remember, this is during alpha development, so we're all in "dev mode." The `dev` script will watch for saves in client-side CSS and Javascript and trigger a build and page refresh if they are detected. It will also restart the app when server-side code is saved.
diff --git a/app.js b/app.js
index 0b747e83..eb9f037b 100644
--- a/app.js
+++ b/app.js
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+require('dotenv').config()
+
 require('apostrophe')({
   shortName: 'a3-boilerplate',
   modules: {
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 89ba307f..319f9c01 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -6,8 +6,8 @@
   "scripts": {
     "start": "node app",
     "dev": "nodemon",
-    "build": "NODE_ENV=production node app @apostrophecms/asset:build",
-    "serve": "NODE_ENV=production node app",
+    "build": "cross-env NODE_ENV=production node app @apostrophecms/asset:build",
+    "serve": "cross-env NODE_ENV=production node app",
     "release": "npm install && npm run build && node app @apostrophecms/migration:migrate"
   },
   "nodemonConfig": {
@@ -38,7 +38,9 @@
   "license": "MIT",
   "dependencies": {
     "apostrophe": "^3.0.0",
-    "normalize.css": "^8.0.1"
+    "normalize.css": "^8.0.1",
+    "cross-env": "^7.0.3",
+    "dotenv": "^10.0.0"
   },
   "devDependencies": {
     "eslint": "^7.16.0",