diff --git a/en_US.ISO8859-1/books/handbook/ports/chapter.sgml b/en_US.ISO8859-1/books/handbook/ports/chapter.sgml
index 198f0735bc..b73ccb7a80 100644
--- a/en_US.ISO8859-1/books/handbook/ports/chapter.sgml
+++ b/en_US.ISO8859-1/books/handbook/ports/chapter.sgml
@@ -904,6 +904,41 @@ Receiving lsof_4.57D.freebsd.tar.gz (439860 bytes): 100%
 
 	<para>In this example we change the <makevar>MASTER_SITES</makevar> option to
 	  <hostid role="fqdn">ftp.FreeBSD.org/pub/FreeBSD/ports/distfiles/</hostid>.</para>
+
+	<note><para>Some ports require you to provide build options which can enable/disable
+	  parts of the application which are unneeded, certain security options,
+	  and other customizations.  A few which come to mind are
+	  <filename role="package">net/mozilla</filename>,
+	  <filename role="package">security/gpgme</filename>, and
+	  <filename role="package">mail/sylpheed-claws</filename>.  A message will be
+	  displayed when options such as these are available.</para></note>
+      </sect3>
+
+      <sect3>
+        <title>Overriding the Default Ports Directories</title>
+
+	<para>Sometimes it is useful (or mandatory) to use a different distfiles
+	  and ports directory.  The <makevar>PORTSDIR</makevar> and
+	  <makevar>PREFIX</makevar> variables can override the default
+	  directories.  For example:</para>
+
+	<screen>&prompt.root; <userinput>make PORTSDIR=/usr/home/example/ports install</userinput></screen>
+
+	<para>will compile the port in <filename>/usr/home/example/ports</filename> and
+	    install everything under <filename>/usr/local</filename>.</para>
+
+	<screen>&prompt.root; <userinput>make PREFIX=/usr/home/example/local install</userinput></screen>
+
+	<para>will compile it in <filename>/usr/ports</filename> and install it in
+	  <filename>/usr/home/example/local</filename>.</para>
+
+	<para>And of course,</para>
+
+	<screen>&prompt.root; <userinput>make PORTSDIR=../ports PREFIX=../local install</userinput></screen>
+
+	<para>will combine the two (it is too long to completely write on
+	  this page, but it should give you the general idea).</para>
+
       </sect3>
     </sect2>