Last spring, when you were planting beets and peas, the Maine Sunday Telegram did some planting of its own: We launched Source, a weekly section dedicated to “eating and living sustainably in Maine.” All year, we’ve nourished it and watched it take root. To mark our first anniversary, we will honor some of the people who have made this new section possible with the first-ever Source Sustainability Awards.

Not the writers, editors or printers (although sure, we’ll take a pat on the back, too). Rather, these awards will recognize the more important part of this weekly publication – you. The ever-growing number of Mainers who are building bike lanes; nurturing at-risk honey bees; reviving the state textile industry; installing solar panels; fighting invasive species and saving native ones; digging root cellars; encouraging composting; reducing greenhouse gases; carpooling or riding the bus; preserving fisheries; working to get local foods inside local hospitals, schools and supermarkets. And so much more.

The green ferment here is inspiring and hopeful. Maybe, just maybe, we can figure out the tremendously daunting environmental challenges that we face in Maine – and everywhere.

Do you know someone who has done imaginative and hard work to help make Maine sustainable? Is it time to give attention to a business or nonprofit that has been quietly building the infrastructure we need to make great ideas matter? Please nominate a group or individual at pressherald.com/SOURCEawards in one of these seven categories: newcomer, elder, innovator, educator, pollinator, storyteller and good neighbor. We’ll also launch a scholarship for graduating high school seniors. Winners will be announced April 9 at Pineland Farms in New Gloucester and in a special issue of Source.

Many of the Mainers making a positive difference work in fields that likely won’t make them rich – for nonprofits, for struggling new businesses, maybe out in actual fields of corn and kale. Recognition for jobs extraordinarily well done is the least we can do.