John B. wrote:

(...)

Back in the day we grew nearly all of our vegetables and as I remember
it seed cost was not extravagant - 10 cents or so a packet. Probably
more now, I guess.

Quite a bit more.
Those seeds should cost say $0.60 now.

http://www.burpee.com/heirloom-seeds-and-plants/

You will note that seeds have beaten inflation by a wide margin.
I see 4 dollarettes for a pack of 50 'mortgage lifter' tomato
seeds. Still a huge bargain IMHO.

--Winston