The Organic Gardening FAQ Page (see link below) has many answers to these two questions.

From that FAQ page, the "Why is the Aerobic Microherd in Organic Gardening so important?" and "What is the correct definition of Organic Gardening?" links both provide many detailed answers.

They're both good reading. :)

All the best,
-Patrick

Here is a link that might be useful: Organic Gardening FAQ Page

Thanks, those were some good reads and they did answer my question.

Here's a list of things an organic program can do that no chemical can do. The beneficial microbes in the soil do the following.
1. Decompose plant residues and manure to humus.
2. Retain nutrients in humus.
3. Combine nitrogen and carbon to prevent nutrient loss.
4. Suppress disease.
5. Produce plant growth regulators.
6. Develop soil structure, tilth, and water penetration/retention.
7. Clean up chemical residues.
8. Shift soil pH to neutral and keep it there.
9. Search out and retrieve nutrients in distant parts of the soil.

10. Decompose thatch and keep it from returning.
11. Control nitrogen supply to the plants according to need.
12. Pull minerals out of inorganic soil components for plants.
13. Provide the exact chemical nutrients to the plant that the plant has evolved with rather than man's cheapest chemical approximation.
14. Provide exactly the required quantity of nutrients that the plant needs.
15. Provide the nutrients at exactly the right time that the plant needs them.

No chemical can do any of that. To be fair, no single microbe can do all of that either. In fact, it could be that it takes 10 different species, one working right after the other, to do any one item in the above list - sort of like a microbiological assembly line. But at least it's real easy to get all the right microbes. The biology of the soil is very complicated.
At the same time, many chemicals inhibit the microbe's natural abilities to do these things. Herbicides, fungicides, and pesticides are all designed to kill various biological life. As a byproduct, they often kill off the beneficial microbes that are doing 1 through 15 above. Any break in the assembly line can interrupt the process, damage the mini ecosystem, and lessen the benefit of the organic methods.

Organic gardening or farming is about much more than just fish emulsion, alfalfa pellets, or simply substituting any fertilizer for some kind of synthetic fertilizer, or not spraying poisons around. Organic gardening, and farming, is about building the health of your soil so it will not only grow strong healthy plants for you but for future generations as well. Organics are about making this earth a better place for our grandchldren. Organics is about understanding the environment you live in so you do no harm to that environment.

Well said Kimmsr. Organic gardening is working with nature, not battling against it.

The most important aspect of organic gardening is the trace minerals found in produce.

The lack of these minerals in our diets are the cause of many mental and physical health problems.

Plant derived colloidal minerals are the most important need of all body functions.

sane psycho: biologically active soil and high-Brix produce. You just can't get those with artificial fertilizers, weed killers, and fungicides. Regards, Peter.

Tests comparing liquid chemical to liquid organic do not come close. The organic liquid is much better for the money. So why would you want to use chemical?

It all comes down to media frenzy. What people hear advertised as a good deal they buy. And the big box stores promote them the most and that is where people buy. Look at the Miracle Gro ads next to this note...

Also, our higher education and county extension services aren't helping any.

The only thing that will change minds toward organic is the market, prices and chemical farming oil dependent. Right now farmers are paying up to $100 an acre with chemicals. With liquid organics they would pay $35/acre.

Here is a link that might be useful: Aggrand

Tests comparing liquid chemical to liquid organic do not come close. The organic liquid is much better for the money.

What tests? I would like to review these tests myself so links to research would be appreciated where possible. Here's a list of things an organic program can do that no chemical can do. The beneficial microbes in the soil do the following.

I didn't see anything in the list that seemed like it couldn't be accomplished with a hybrid program using some synthetic fertilizer with a soil well amended with organic matter. Where am I going wrong? biologically active soil and high-Brix produce

How does the nutrient source affect the brix rating? Surely you are aware that no plant on earth uses any nutrient unless is is in water soluble form? Organic matter isn't, most synthetics are. Organics are converted by soil organisms to be plant usable, but I don't understand how this would affect the brix rating nor do I understand why the brix rating is anything I should care about. Please explain.

The most important aspect of organic gardening is the trace minerals found in produce.

The lack of these minerals in our diets are the cause of many mental and physical health problems.

OK, but every one of these trace minerals are plant nutrients that can be provided by organic matter and synthetic fertilizers so how does this establish the superiority of a purely organic approach to plant nutrition over a hybrid approach which is what the OP is asking about?

The OP asked Couldn't you just take the best stuff from both sides to take care of your plants? so please limit answers to the issue of what problems are there with using synthetic fertilizers along with adding organic matter to the soil rather than presenting opinions on the difference between a purely organic and a purely synthetic nutrient program.

The question isn't about which is better, but what's the problem with a hybrid approach where both organic ideas (adding organic material to the soil food web) are practiced along with using synthetic fertilizers to increase productivity of plants in those cases where it appears to boost growth.

Why buy any manufactured product when you can make your own compost in a small corner of your yard? If you have good soil, most plants do fine without any added fertilizer. Feed the worms - they work for free.

I see people buying all sorts of pesticides and herbicides early in the spring - to run home and spray everything in sight. I think many people kill plants by over-watering and over-fertilizing. Leave them alone! Currently I have some aphids on a few of my roses. I started smashing them and knocking them off until I realized I was also knocking off ladybugs and spiders. I backed off.

We need to give nature more credit.