include instructions for building outwith source control
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index b4efce8..2635b62 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -42,6 +42,18 @@
bin/brooklyn launch
+### Non-Git Build
+
+If you are performing a build on code not in source control (e.g. from a ZIP of source code, or after deleting SCM metadata),
+you will need to manually set two variables that are normally inferred from the environment:
+
+ * `-DbuildNumber=manual`
+ * `-DscmBranch=manual`
+
+You can set these properties to any value you wish. When using a checkout from git, the `buildNumber` is set to the SHA1 commit ID (short form)
+of the containing project, and the `scmBranch` is set to the git branch.
+
+
### Resources
<!--- BROOKLYN_VERSION_BELOW -->
