The unseasonably warm weather and few extra hands made for a long, hard day of planting 25 trees at the Whitefield Fire and Rescue on Oct. 8.

David Spicer of Spicer Tree and Landscape, and Selectmen Frank Ober, Susan McKeen, Tom Colpitt, Dennis Merrill, and Steve McCormick, with the help of abutter David Hayden, and other residents, completed the effort with good will.

“The town did pretty good to get all this for $670,” said Spicer explaining the only trees the town actually purchased were the 10 Sugar Maples.

Additional trees were obtained through the Maine Forestry service in cooperation with Dutton’s nursery (now out of business) of Morrill.

Spicer, a former forester, donated time, equipment, and impressive planting knowledge said the trees were purchased at a greatly reduced rate. “The whole project would have cost between $14,000 and $16,000,” he said, a figure confirmed by the selectmen.

In addition to the Sugar Maples, the new firehouse landscape features crab apples, river birch, arborvitae, and red maple.

Spicer prepared the holes and set the trees with his tractor and backhoe, while the selectmen and Hayden cut away burlap and heavy gauge wire to expose the rootball, which was then inoculated with a specially formulated organic vertimulch, and backfilled by hand.

PHC vertimulch is a mycorrizal fungus with rhizosphere bacteria which will grow and prepare the soil with healthy fungi bacteria and create the perfect symbiotic relationship for bacterial growth and root absorption.

“It’s about $400 per five gallons,” Spicer said, explaining ordinary fertilizer on new transplants does more harm than good, since it burns the roots.

Although the overall spirits were good and attitudes positive, the selectmen were hoping for a better turnout of public support.

“I was hoping for a little more help,” Ober said. “We could have used a few more hands,” McKeen said.

“I hope we have a great turn out for the dedication next Saturday,” said McKeen.

She hopes residents realize the new firehouse as a great resource with its large function room and full kitchen, public restrooms, and the new engine obtained by a grant. The entire project is for the good of the whole community and an entire municipality, she said.

The dedication to honor Firefighter David Dixon is Sat., Oct. 15 at noon and refreshments and an open house will follow “All townspeople are encouraged to come see what a great resource the station will be,” McKeen said.