Why We Don't Use Synthetic Fertilizers

1. I dont have room for compost bins, or the time. One benefit to synthetic lines.
2. everything you said is 100 percent  true.
3. While we are all on the latest fad of organic everything it would be helpful to be more precise with our language. Compost does have nutrients but it is primarily a soil builder, adding organic matter and microbial life to the soil. I have found that the nutrient quality is very hit or miss depending on the ingredients in your pile. A better comparison is whether organic fertilizers like fish emulsion or seed meals are better than synthetics. 
   Organics are much slower acting and are pretty much useless if you notice that plants are showing signs of nitrogen deficiency. They are also ineffective when growing plants in pots. Intensive cropping usually results in lack of nitrogen in second or third rotations even when your soil is sufficient in nitrogen in the beginning. Therefore regular applications are required throughout the growing season for maximum crop yields  Since Synthetics are much cheaper and easier to acquire and are more immediately available to the plants I vote for synthetic. A nitrogen atom is a nitrogen atom in any universe.
4. Ok let me ask, if you have the following organic ingredients(which are readily available to me :) ) in what proportion would you add to the soil?
   goat and cow manure
   compost
   vermicompost
   neem cakes
5. Miracle Grow nutes are $5 at most places. It last forever. The soil can be had for cheap during summer sales. Easy peasy, clean and non smelly.
6. since when is plastic non renewable? they make plastic out of cellulose
7. There may be a subtle isotopic difference between syn/natural nutes but they have the same chemistry as far as plants can tell. It comes down to building soil vs treating the soil as a soil-less medium, and whether you care ideologically about 'synthetic' products. I use each where it makes sense for me, generally build soil outside and use synthetic inside or on containers that need a lot of care/water anyway.
8. I have a bag of synthetic fertilizer (10-10-10) and don't want to use it on any plants. Should I toss it in my compost pile or in my trash can?
9. :-)
10. Great Info, Glad to see people in support of fixing our environment, what better way than educating about these things?
11. All good stuff- I also am a worm farmer and have switched over the last few years from using synthetics to mostly organic but sometimes I find an occasional use of synthetics helps. One thing about worm castings that you didnt mention is that castings are a water holding material and its best not to use more than 20%. of the total mix. I have run my own personal tests that prove this fact. On my own inside cuttings I have been experimenting with seabird guano and seen great results but have seen certain types of cuttings have negative results from this use. I also fully believe in the use of liquid seaweed as a drench on occasion during the winter and my cuttings stay green. Another observation of using worm castings on these cuttings I find I never have plant droop syndrome that I always got previous to that. Like most people I originally started with about 1500-2000 worms and from this expanding herd I have started multiple new bins and without the beginning hassle you sometimes run into. I will add that my bins are inside as I want to keep my wormies working 24/7 even during winter so I can acquire as much castings as possible seasonal gardens.
12. Cost should include your labor, right?
13. I like your all-inclusive grading system. The last 10-10-10 synthetic fertilizer I bought was also 10% chlorine. That's why it was the last.
14. Hey Patrick - I'm with you except slightly for the cost - in the organic column, you didn't really put a value on your time. Yes, sourcing many local resources is free, but there is some cost in time and energy in obtaining and processing these. Admittedly, I have no idea what the value would be, just suggest there should be some vs. the flat cost of buying the chemical 'stuff'.
15. Helpful and important to distinguish, as you did near the end, between organics as you practise it, and 'organic products' which may or may not be terribly helpful. I think very well-meaning people can be duped by a buzzword like 'organic'. 
    
    I am still new to your channel and working through the vids; do you look at using manures? I live semi rurally, so animal poos are a useful local resource, sometimes free!
16. What a breath of fresh air. A very balanced argument especially about a home garden. I may have scored the synthetic a bit higher (giving the user the benefit of doubt about judicial usage etc) as misapplication can be achieved with either nutrient source. Also I was relieved that you pointed out that the nutrients once absorbed were no different. Many otherwise well meaning messengers get this crucial point of fact wrong losing most all credibility with me.  I enjoy your channel and thank you for contributing your time and knowledge to benefit others. Have a great day!
17. I am in the Chicagoland area as well, and was wondering if you knew of any places where I could pick up free compost? I would make my own but am not allowed to in the community I live in.
18. Probably the most thorough explanation for the case against synthetics that I have ever heard. Nice job.
19. Good reasoning withouth falling into chemofobia.
20. I tried synthetic fertilizers years ago and found out that was way too easy to over apply it, nowdays we don't use any chemicals and the more compost we have in the garden the better our vegtables do. Still learning every year how to grow things better.