Welcome to The Roughwood Center
Rooted in History. Feeding the Future.

For more than 90 years, the Roughwood Seed Collection has preserved over 5,000 varieties of heirloom seeds - living links to Indigenous, African American, Pennsylvania Dutch, and global food traditions. As a Pennsylvania-based 501(c)(3) educational nonprofit, The Roughwood Center’s mission is to preserve, cultivate, and document these historically significant seeds and to provide seed-to-table education that strengthens cultural food heritage and community food security.

Roughwood is now preparing for a transformative new chapter. With the sale of our historic home, we are relocating the seed collection to a secure, long-term institutional setting that will provide permanent preservation and expanded opportunities for research, teaching, and public engagement. As this transition unfolds, we remain committed to sharing heritage foods and stories through educational programs, talks, tastings, and more - ensuring that the seeds, and the cultures they represent, continue to grow.