diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index bfaa27f..e76565b 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -12,13 +12,35 @@ communication keys used by the nodes (i.e. services running on them)
 
 ## start beekeeper
 
+The docker-compose file has override values for different local dev environments. 
+
+Here is a list of files:
+1. `docker-compose.vm.yml`: overrides node1 service with a vm cloned repo (manually by the user).
+
+Setup for each override docker-compose `.yml` file (same enumeration as above):
+1. Setup
+    ```
+    git clone git@github.com:waggle-sensor/node-platforms.git
+    ```
+
+Generate keys:
 ```bash
 ./create-keys.sh init --nopassword
 ./create-keys.sh cert untilforever forever
-docker-compose up --build
 ```
 Note: Options above like `--nopassword` and `forever` should not be used in production.
 
+Start beekeeper with no overriden values:
+```
+docker-compose up --build
+```
+
+Start beekeeper with overriden values depending on the use-case:
+1. Setup
+    ```
+    docker-compose -f docker-compose.yml -f docker-compose.vm.yml up --build
+    ```
+
 # Register a beehive with beekeeper (example)
 
 1) The first step creates a beehive but credentials will be missing.
diff --git a/docker-compose.vm.yml b/docker-compose.vm.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f15fdac
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docker-compose.vm.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+version: '3.7'
+services:
+  node1:
+    image: waggle/node-platforms:node1
+    build: 
+      context: node-platforms/vm
+      dockerfile: Dockerfile
+      args:
+        VSN: vsn1
+        NODE_ID: "0000000000000001"
+
+  node2:
+    image: waggle/node-platforms:node2
+    build:
+      context: node-platforms/vm
+      dockerfile: Dockerfile
+      args:
+        VSN: vsn2
+        NODE_ID: "0000000000000002"
+    volumes:
+      - ${PWD}/beekeeper-keys/registration_certs/untilforever/registration:/etc/waggle/sage_registration_readonly:ro
+      - ${PWD}/beekeeper-keys/registration_certs/untilforever/registration-cert.pub:/etc/waggle/sage_registration-cert.pub_readonly:ro
+      # for /etc/ssh/ssh_known_hosts:
+      - ${PWD}/beekeeper-keys/certca/beekeeper_ca_key.pub:/etc/waggle/beekeeper_ca_key.pub:ro
+      # so beekeeper can ssh into it:
+      - ${PWD}/beekeeper-keys/nodes-key/nodes.pem.pub:/root/.ssh/authorized_keys:ro