diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index ace8a694c4..022c5e137d 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 /*
 !/.gitignore
 !/Library/
+!/CONTRIBUTING.md
 !/README.md
 !/bin
 /bin/*
diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..8b7b460a1c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+Contributing to Homebrew
+========================
+
+Reporting Bugs
+--------------
+Please read:
+
+* `brew doctor`
+* [Troubleshooting Checklist](https://github.com/mxcl/homebrew/wiki/troubleshooting)
+
+**If you don't read these it will take us far longer to help you with your problem.**
+
+Contributing
+------------
+Please read:
+
+* [Formula Cookbook](https://github.com/mxcl/homebrew/wiki/Formula-Cookbook)
+* [Acceptable Formula](https://github.com/mxcl/homebrew/wiki/Acceptable-Formula)
+
+Thanks!