How to I hide my secret_key using virtualenv and Django?
Common approach, if you'd like to configure region, but did not want to store sensitive information in repo, is to pass it through environment variables. When you need it just call os.environ('SECRET') (even in your settings.py). Better with some fallback value.
Virtualenv does not helps you to hide anything, it just prevent you system-wide Python installation from littering by one-project-required-packages.
I am using Django, python, virtualenv, virtualenvwrapper and Vagrant.
So far I have simply left my secret_key inside of the settings.py file.
This works file for local files.  However I have already placed my files in Git.  I know this is not acceptable for production(Apache).  
What is the correct way to go about hiding my secret_key?
Should I use virtualenv to hide it?