Team

A native of Ireland, Declan Blackmore founded Summerhill Landscapes in 1993 and later SHL Farms in 2012. Having grown up on a farm in Ireland, SHL Farms represents a return to Declan’s roots. His reputation and collaborative spirit attracts top landscape architects, architects, designers, and engineers. Declan has created a unique mentoring and internship program for students from around the world, as well as a scholarship fund to support the next generation of Long Island horticulturalists. He is a graduate of Kildalton College of Horticulture.

Tatton joined SHL Farms in September 2024. Originally from Oregon, he brings a wealth of farm management and horticultural experience to our team. Tatton holds a master’s degree in Botany and an MBA with a finance emphasis, both from Washington State University. He earned his BS in Horticulture from BYU-Idaho with an emphasis on production. Before joining Summerhill, he managed the planting and harvesting of 400,000+ trees a year.

James began his career as an intern at Summerhill Landscapes where he was quick to learn about the many facets of our operations, including maintenance, construction, farm, facilities, and logistics. He became a Project Manager in 2019 and now leads logistics operations at SHL Farms. James holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Waterford Institute of Technology in Ireland, where he graduated with honors in 2018.

Before joining SHL Farms in 2024, Ruth spent three years at one of Ireland’s largest wholesale nurseries where she sourced and supplied material to designers and landscapers nationwide, as well as supporting sales to major retailers and garden centers. As Farm Administrator for our Amagansett farm, Ruth blends her passion for plant care with her keen business acumen. In addition to her studies in garden design and horticulture, Ruth holds a BA in Accounting and Finance, with a specialization in Project Management, from Dublin City University.

Katherine joined SHL Farms in 2023. She coordinates shipments to customers and is responsible for inventory management and quality control. Katherine plays a key role as a liaison between farm crews, supervisors, and logistics managers. A native of Honduras, she holds a degree from Honduras National College.

Tina began her tenure at Summerhill in 2016 as an Administrative Assistant. Originally from Northern Virginia, she studied at Old Dominion University before making the move to Long Island. As Farm Administrator for our Southampton and Riverhead farms, Tina effectively merges her passion for horticulture and land management with her solid grasp of business operations.

With over forty years of hands-on farmyard expertise, Keith brings invaluable experience to SHL Farms. Keith joined Summerhill in January, 2021. His role involves coordinating daily farmyard operations, ensuring our equipment is maintained to the highest standards, and upholding the efficiency and integrity of our farm sites.

William leads his team through every phase of field operations, ensuring each step is carried out with precision and professionalism. He joined Summerhill in March 2012 as a maintenance crew member and was steadily promoted as he acquired new skills. Today, he draws on his experience to guide his team in upholding Summerhill’s highest standards.

Edgar is a certified soil laboratory technician and quality control specialist. He supervises essential maintenance, including herbicide application, pruning, and fertilization, to ensure the health and vitality of our farm products. Since joining Summerhill in 2014, Edgar has routinely shared his expertise to support our training programs and processes.

A skilled machinery operator, Santos is known for his supportive leadership and expertise in training others on heavy machinery and equipment. Santos joined Summerhill in 2019 as a field worker and was promoted to a field supervisor in September 2025.