diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 89d7f30..50230ce 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -58,42 +58,31 @@ Default is `false`.
 
 ### Step 4b - Git setup
 
-First be sure that you have already placed your project under revision
-control using git.
-
-For example, for the default values of remote="master" and
-branch="gh-pages", the output of `git branch -a` should look like:
-
-      gh-pages
-    * master
-      remotes/origin/HEAD -> origin/master
-      remotes/origin/gh-pages
-      remotes/origin/master
-
-This shows that "gh-pages" exists in the remote and local repos. There
-needs to be at least one commit in "gh-pages" with which to start.
-
 Edit `config.rb`, and add:
 
     activate :deploy do |deploy|
       deploy.method = :git
     end
 
+With this default configuration, it will deploy to the "origin/gh-pages" branch of
+your current repo.
+
 #### These settings are optional.
 
 To use a particular remote, add:
 
       deploy.remote = "some-other-remote-name"
 
-Default is `origin`. Run `git remote -v` to see a list of possible
-remotes.
+Default is `origin`. You can add a remote or a git url.
+Run `git remote -v` to see a list of possible remotes or add a new one first.
+If you specify a git url, be sure it ends with '.git'.
 
 To use a particular branch, add:
 
       deploy.branch = "some-other-branch-name"
 
-Default is `gh-pages`. Run `git branch -a` to see a list of possible
-branches.
+Default is `gh-pages`. If the branch doesn't exist remote, it will be created
+for you.
 
 ### Step 4c - FTP setup
 
diff --git a/lib/middleman-deploy/commands.rb b/lib/middleman-deploy/commands.rb
index 8bec80d..98a5101 100644
--- a/lib/middleman-deploy/commands.rb
+++ b/lib/middleman-deploy/commands.rb
@@ -3,8 +3,6 @@ require "middleman-core/cli"
 require "middleman-deploy/extension"
 require "middleman-deploy/pkg-info"
 
-require "git"
-
 PACKAGE = "#{Middleman::Deploy::PACKAGE}"
 VERSION = "#{Middleman::Deploy::VERSION}"
 
@@ -126,28 +124,42 @@ EOF
 
         puts "## Deploying via git to remote=\"#{remote}\" and branch=\"#{branch}\""
 
-        # ensure that the remote branch exists in ENV["MM_ROOT"]
-        orig = Git.open(ENV["MM_ROOT"])
-        # TODO: orig.branch(branch, "#{remote}/#{branch}")
-
-        Dir.mktmpdir do |tmp|
-          # clone ENV["MM_ROOT"] to tmp (ENV["MM_ROOT"] is now "origin")
-          repo = Git.clone(ENV["MM_ROOT"], tmp)
-          repo.checkout("origin/#{branch}", :new_branch => branch)
-
-          # copy ./build/* to tmp
-          FileUtils.cp_r(Dir.glob(File.join(ENV["MM_ROOT"], "build", "*")), tmp)
-
-          # git add and commit in tmp
-          repo.add
-          repo.commit("Automated commit at #{Time.now.utc} by #{PACKAGE} #{VERSION}")
-
-          # push back into ENV["MM_ROOT"]
-          repo.push("origin", branch)
+        #check if remote is not a git url
+        unless remote =~ /\.git$/
+          remote = `git config --get remote.#{remote}.url`.chop
         end
 
-        orig.push(remote, branch)
-        orig.remote(remote).fetch
+        #if the remote name doesn't exist in the main repo
+        if remote == ''
+          puts "Can't deploy! Please add a remote with the name '#{self.deploy_options.remote}' to your repo."
+          exit
+        end
+
+        Dir.chdir('build') do
+          unless File.exists?('.git')
+            `git init`
+            `git remote add origin #{remote}`
+          else
+            #check if the remote repo has changed
+            unless remote == `git config --get remote.origin.url`.chop
+              `git remote rm origin`
+              `git remote add origin #{remote}`
+            end
+          end
+
+          `git fetch origin`
+
+          #if there is a remote branch with that name, reset to it, otherwise just create a new one
+          if `git branch -r`.split("\n").keep_if{ |r| r =~ Regexp.new(branch,true) }.count > 0
+            `git reset --hard origin/#{branch}`
+          else
+            `git checkout -b #{branch}`
+          end
+
+          `git add -A`
+          `git commit --allow-empty -am 'Automated commit at #{Time.now.utc} by #{PACKAGE} #{VERSION}'`
+          `git push -f origin #{branch}`
+        end
       end
 
       def deploy_ftp
diff --git a/middleman-deploy.gemspec b/middleman-deploy.gemspec
index 98bf43a..3aae0c0 100644
--- a/middleman-deploy.gemspec
+++ b/middleman-deploy.gemspec
@@ -21,6 +21,5 @@ Gem::Specification.new do |s|
   s.add_runtime_dependency("middleman-core", [">= 3.0.0"])
 
   # Additional dependencies
-  s.add_runtime_dependency("git", "~> 1.2.0")
   s.add_runtime_dependency("ptools")
 end