diff --git a/argocd/apps/cloudnative-pg.yaml b/argocd/apps/cloudnative-pg.yaml
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+++ b/argocd/apps/cloudnative-pg.yaml
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+# CloudNativePG Operator - PostgreSQL for Kubernetes
+# Deploys the operator only; PostgreSQL clusters are created separately
+apiVersion: argoproj.io/v1alpha1
+kind: Application
+metadata:
+  name: cloudnative-pg
+  namespace: argocd
+spec:
+  project: default
+  sources:
+    # Helm chart from upstream
+    - repoURL: https://cloudnative-pg.github.io/charts
+      chart: cloudnative-pg
+      targetRevision: "0.23.0"
+      helm:
+        releaseName: cloudnative-pg
+        valueFiles:
+          - $values/argocd/manifests/cloudnative-pg/values.yaml
+    # Values from our git repo
+    - repoURL: ssh://forgejo@indri.tail8d86e.ts.net:2200/eblume/blumeops.git
+      targetRevision: feature/k8s-phase1-kickoff
+      ref: values
+  destination:
+    server: https://kubernetes.default.svc
+    namespace: cnpg-system
+  syncPolicy:
+    syncOptions:
+      - CreateNamespace=true
+  # Manual sync only - no automated sync on git push
diff --git a/argocd/manifests/cloudnative-pg/README.md b/argocd/manifests/cloudnative-pg/README.md
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+# CloudNativePG Operator
+
+Kubernetes operator for managing PostgreSQL clusters with high availability.
+
+## Source
+
+- Helm chart: `cloudnative-pg` from https://cloudnative-pg.github.io/charts
+- Documentation: https://cloudnative-pg.io/documentation/
+
+## Deployment
+
+Managed via ArgoCD Application using Helm source (not kustomize).
+The Application points directly to the upstream Helm repository.
+
+## ArgoCD CLI Commands
+
+```bash
+# Check application status
+argocd app get cloudnative-pg
+
+# Trigger a sync
+argocd app sync cloudnative-pg
+
+# View deployment history
+argocd app history cloudnative-pg
+```
+
+## Verification
+
+```bash
+# Check operator pod is running
+kubectl get pods -n cnpg-system
+
+# Check operator logs
+kubectl logs -n cnpg-system -l app.kubernetes.io/name=cloudnative-pg
+
+# Check CRDs are installed
+kubectl get crd | grep cnpg
+```
+
+## Files
+
+| File | Description |
+|------|-------------|
+| `values.yaml` | Helm values for customization |
+| `README.md` | This file |
+
+## Notes
+
+- The operator is deployed to `cnpg-system` namespace
+- PostgreSQL clusters are created separately using the `Cluster` CRD (see Step 7)
+- No secrets required for the operator itself
diff --git a/argocd/manifests/cloudnative-pg/values.yaml b/argocd/manifests/cloudnative-pg/values.yaml
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+# CloudNativePG Helm values
+# See: https://github.com/cloudnative-pg/charts/tree/main/charts/cloudnative-pg
+
+# Using defaults for now - customize as needed