diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 244eb38f61201d8aafeb85723ea98035b03a193b..d1b3afb1f5c6167d3a568b59380cb4b0666238c8 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -34,6 +34,21 @@ package install via an attribute name from `pkgs/default.nix`:
 nix-env -f argopkgs="https://xgitlab.cels.anl.gov/argo/argopkgs/-/archive/master/argopkgs-master.tar.gz" -iA <attribute name>
 ```
 
+alternatively, use `argopkgs` as a channel:
+
+```
+nix-channel --add https://xgitlab.cels.anl.gov/argo/argopkgs/-/archive/master/argopkgs-master.tar.gz argopkgs
+nix-channel --update argopkgs
+
+```
+
+which lets you install packages and enter environments:
+
+```
+$ nix-env -iA argopkgs.nrm
+$ nix-shell \<argopkgs\> -A nrm
+```
+
 ## gitlab runners
 
 ### tl;dr