diff --git a/.env_sample b/.env_sample
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..0f0417d2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.env_sample
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+DEVELOPMENT=1
+SECRET_KEY="your_secret_key_here"
+SITE_NAME="localhost"
+SLACK_ENABLED=True
+SLACK_BOT_TOKEN="your_slack_bot_token_here"
+SLACK_WORKSPACE="example-workspace"
+SUPPORT_EMAIL = 'support@example.com'
+
+# dev only
+DBHOST=127.0.0.1
+DBPORT=3306
+DBNAME=hackathons
+DBUSER=hackthon_user
+DBPASS=gummyball
+
+# http for dev
+ACCOUNT_DEFAULT_HTTP_PROTOCOL=http
+
+# to be used with Mailhog
+EMAIL_BACKEND='django.core.mail.backends.smtp.EmailBackend'
+EMAIL_PORT=1025
+EMAIL_HOST=smtp