diff --git a/env/load.go b/env/load.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f0bbd7f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/env/load.go
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+package env
+
+import (
+	"log"
+	"os"
+	"path"
+	"strconv"
+
+	"github.com/joho/godotenv"
+)
+
+func LoadEnvVariables() {
+	LoadEnvVariablesPath(".")
+}
+
+func LoadEnvVariablesPath(dir string) {
+	fp := path.Join(dir, ".env")
+	err := godotenv.Load(fp)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Fatal("Error loading .env file", err)
+	}
+}
+
+// Helper to get environment variables with a default fallback
+func GetEnv(key, defaultVal string) string {
+	if value, exists := os.LookupEnv(key); exists {
+		return value
+	}
+	return defaultVal
+}
+
+// Helper to safely convert environment variables to uint
+func GetEnvUint(key string, defaultVal uint) uint {
+	if value, exists := os.LookupEnv(key); exists {
+		if parsed, err := strconv.Atoi(value); err == nil && parsed >= 0 {
+			return uint(parsed)
+		}
+	}
+	return defaultVal
+}
diff --git a/go.mod b/go.mod
index 43e268d..5c9c567 100644
--- a/go.mod
+++ b/go.mod
@@ -2,4 +2,7 @@ module git.grassecon.net/grassrootseconomics/common
 
 go 1.23.4
 
-require golang.org/x/crypto v0.32.0
+require (
+	github.com/joho/godotenv v1.5.1
+	golang.org/x/crypto v0.32.0
+)
diff --git a/go.sum b/go.sum
index 2f9c45b..8cd4169 100644
--- a/go.sum
+++ b/go.sum
@@ -1,2 +1,4 @@
+github.com/joho/godotenv v1.5.1 h1:7eLL/+HRGLY0ldzfGMeQkb7vMd0as4CfYvUVzLqw0N0=
+github.com/joho/godotenv v1.5.1/go.mod h1:f4LDr5Voq0i2e/R5DDNOoa2zzDfwtkZa6DnEwAbqwq4=
 golang.org/x/crypto v0.32.0 h1:euUpcYgM8WcP71gNpTqQCn6rC2t6ULUPiOzfWaXVVfc=
 golang.org/x/crypto v0.32.0/go.mod h1:ZnnJkOaASj8g0AjIduWNlq2NRxL0PlBrbKVyZ6V/Ugc=