Urbie aims to alleviate social problems in sprawling metropolitan areas that are caused by urban expansion through urban farming. Through the increase of green spaces and urban farming areas, we believe we can help alleviate the urban heat-island effect through increasing green spaces on walls, rooftops and gardens. By allowing consumers to purchase our systems at affordable prices and providing them with the necessary training to turn them into potential semi-intensive urban farmers, we can help reduce their food costs and, given time, provide them with a secondary source of income. Urban farmers can harness the knowledge database, markets, communities and marketing capabilities of our on-line virtual community platform. They can also participate in our face-to-face events to not only sell their produce to enthusiastic supporters but also to learn about ways to improve their production capabilities, their marketing approaches and increase their sales.