The Humble Origins Of The Garden Hammock

s originated in South America and have been aroundless space than bunks; they were the perfect solution
for many years. They were originally made from theto the cramped quarters that all the crew faced.
bark of the hamak tree and this is how the hammockThe hammock became so well loved by the ships
got its name.As soon as Christopher Columbus landedcrews that many insisted on bringing their hammock
on the Bahamas he could see the versatility of thewith them when they were a shore, complaining that
hammock and promptly brought the idea back tothey were unable to sleep properly otherwise.
Spain where it went through some refinements. LikeHammocks were used by both the navy and military
swapping the hamak bark for sisal fibres before itright up to the Second World War which shows just
spread throughout Europe.how versatile and durable a hammock is when it stand
The main reason hammocks became popular initially inup to these conditions.
South America is because they are suspended aboveThere are still many ties with central and latin America,
the floor. This in effect kept the occupant away frommany of todays most popular hammocks have been
insect's spiders and snakes it also offered drynamed after countries in this region.
alternative to sleeping on a wet floor.The Brazilian hammock are generally made from
The hammock is we know it today really came towoven cotton and they do not have the typical
prominence in the 16th century when an English navyspreader bar at each end, these hammocks make for
admiral realised its potential for use in the crampeda comfortable nights sleep and because they do not
conditions of the battle ships. Now more people coulduse spreader bars they are less likely to flip over.
sleep more comfortably in a smaller space thanThe Mayan or Venezuelan hammocks hold many
before.similarities to the traditional Brazilian hammocks, they
The ship's crew found these hammocks toalso do not use a spreader bar, and when the cloth is
comfortable that many brought them assure whenwoven it is a lot lucre which gives the hammock a to
they were on leave, many citing that they could notmore give when you lie in it.
sleep properly without a hammock.The Garden Hammocks humble beginnings
Military hammocks were in continuous use up to theThe hammock is believed to have been conceived in
2nd world war, proving that a hammock was the idealSouth America over 900 years ago. Even though
solution in these trying conditions.there is no hard evidence many believe that the first
Hammocks still hold many close ties with Southhammocks were made using the bark of the hamak
America indeed many of the most popular hammockstree and this is how the hammock was named.
are named after south and Central AmericanIt is also believed that Christopher Columbus is
countries.responsible for bringing the hamak back to Spain and
Brazilian hammocks are made from cotton, they doafter undergoing some refinement it spread throughout
not use a spreader bar which allows the hammock tothe rest of Europe.
wrap in around the person, making them more secureHammocks are popular in South America to this day,
and less likely to fall out when a sleeps.because they still hold the same practicality as they did
The Mexican or Mayan hammock are also made fromback then. They keep the sleeping person off the
cotton and in many ways they are quiet similar to thefloors and out of the reach of any dangerous reptiles
Brazilian hammocks but the one difference is thator insects. They also offer better nights sleep than if
when the cotton is woven it is not woven as tight,you where to sleep on the wet jungle ground.
which allows for a lot more give in the hammock andThe first incarnation of the hammock that we know
after time it will begin to stretch.today came to be when it was introduced to the
How your hammock made it to your gardenBritish navy who used them on the battle ships as
Many believe that the hammock came into being insleeping quarters for the crew. These hammocks took
South America over 900 years ago, the firstup less space than bunks and like a bunk they could
hammock where made using the bark from thealso be doubled up allowing more people to sleep
hamak tree which gave its name to the hammock.more comfortably in smaller space.
It is also believed that Christopher Columbus isThese crew members became so accustomed to
responsible for bringing the hamak back to Spain andsleeping in a hammock that many insisted on taking
after undergoing some refinement it spread throughoutthem whenever they were on leave, convinced that
the rest of Europe.they would be unable to sleep properly in a normal
Hammock became popular in South and Centralbed.
America because they kept the occupant off theHammocks were used both by the navy and military
ground and away from any harmful creatures thatright up until the 2nd world war, which proves without
could be found on the jungle floor. They also offered adoubt that a hammock is the perfect solution in these
degree of comfort compared to the wet floor.hard conditions.
The British navy brought the hammock to prominenceTodays hammock still have many ties with South
in 1590 when they introduced them on the royal navyAmerica , indeed many of todays most popular
ships where they were used as sleeping quarters forhammock get their names from South American
the crew. They were more comfortable and took upcountries.