diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 058dd772..ec113a4d 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -5,6 +5,9 @@
 environment_settings.py
 bma/.env
 
+# local data
+persist/
+
 # Byte-compiled / optimized / DLL files
 __pycache__/
 *.py[cod]
diff --git a/docker/compose.yaml b/docker/compose.yaml
index 4305e784..17304cae 100644
--- a/docker/compose.yaml
+++ b/docker/compose.yaml
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ services:
         command: python src/manage.py runserver 0.0.0.0:8000
         volumes:
           - ..:/app
+          - ../persist:/persist
         depends_on:
           - db
         environment: