diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index ae9bcf4..f1066d3 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -5,4 +5,4 @@ myvenv/
 db.sqlite3
 /static
 .DS_Store
-secrets/
+.env
diff --git a/myponysite/settings.py b/myponysite/settings.py
index 27e684a..c85278f 100644
--- a/myponysite/settings.py
+++ b/myponysite/settings.py
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
 # See https://docs.djangoproject.com/en/2.2/howto/deployment/checklist/
 
 # SECURITY WARNING: keep the secret key used in production secret!
-SECRET_KEY = os.environ['SECRET_KEY']
+SECRET_KEY = "yeg-*ht$p#f%w)kz498c3%6c268wkpa%cza74r56h(zj&oy^ws"
 
 # SECURITY WARNING: don't run with debug turned on in production!
 DEBUG = True
diff --git a/requirements.txt b/requirements.txt
index 2c8d724..a692905 100644
--- a/requirements.txt
+++ b/requirements.txt
@@ -1 +1,2 @@
 Django~=2.2.4
+python-dotenv