For two young Bourke boys turning someone else’s cotton trash into fertilising treasure has become their business.

Barney Mort, 10, and brother Charlie, 9, have ventured into the business world selling what they simply call Garden Food.

It is compost made using the byproduct of cotton ginning, known as cotton trash.

Barney said the business started after their dad started carting the trash for a local cotton gin.

“People said it was good stuff,” Barney said. “So we thought we could use it.”

Barney and brother began to compost the material then screened the larger matter until a fine natural fertiliser was all that remained.

A laboratory analysis confirmed a complete breakdown of nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium and other minerals can be found in their distinctive yellow-branded bags.

“You can see the difference in my garden where I have put Garden Food and where I haven’t,” mum, Michelle Mort said. 

“It doesn’t seem to be as affected by frost where I have applied it.”

With a little help from mum and dad Jonathon, the boys came up with the money to print the bags.

“They chose the colour and even decided on the 14-litre size to make sure they could be handled by just about anyone,” Mrs Mort said.

At first the bagging was simply done with a shovel, but thanks to a generous donation from the local SES the boys now have the use of bagging machine.

Not only do the boys sell their product at Bourke outlets but they also travel to field days across the region.

They will be at the Enngonia Field Day on September 22.

“We are also selling it at Bourke Spar Supermarket, Bourke Caltex Service Station and Bourke Mitre 10,” Barney said.