The optimum would be whatever you have available for free, preferably items that would normally be thrown away. Used coffee grounds, shredded junk mail, kitchen scraps, lawn waste.

Yes, BUT, you need a carbon-nitrogen ratio, and the right amount of moisture. If memory serves, about 60% carbon, 40% nitrogen should give you a quickly acting pile. Moist, NOT wet. Starter can be just a handful of soil. Gasses will be released, so you probably do not want to live in that heated room, without good ventilation!

-TT

Hi
I have been composting with Bioaugmentation (Addition of live bacteria). The way to go is anaerobic (in the absence of air). The C:N ratio I use is 5:1 to start the pile and 20:1 when bacteria are established. The essential points are:
1. Shred Carbon content (Biodegradable Kitchen waste, leaves, grass clippings etc.) to as small pieces as possible. This provides the bacteria with a lot more edge space to get cracking at breaking down)
2. Mix of Carbon Content (as above) and Nitrogen source (Manure, N Fertilizer etc.)
3. Aerobic or anaerobic: In the absence of air you get to kill of virus, pathogens, weeds and keep away flies and mosquitoes. Additionally bad smells are eliminated.
4. Water: The mix should be moist and not dripping. Rule of thumb is like a wet towel that has not started dripping or about 50% of the mix.
5. Temperature: extreme heat or cold will render bacteria inactive so compost in shade in summers and in the sun in winters.
6. bacteria: Its the bacteria that does the breaking down, there is plenty in fresh manure. If you do not have access to this you will need a source. We have EM and Aqua Clean in Pakistan.

I use the following method:
Lay down dry 10 % Carbon source at the bottom.
Spread 50 % N source over this
Cover with fresh 40 % Carbon Source
Add remaining 50% N Source
Add remaining fresh 50% Carbon Source
Add Water 50% of entire mix.
Add Bacteria along with sugar source for quick activation.
Pierce Pile at regular intervals to trap Oxygen
Cover the Pile

After 2 days insert a stick into the pile and remove after 2 minutes.
Check if the inserted end is warm.
If it is, your compost pile is activated.
After 7 days uncover and mix pile thoroughly.
Recover
After another 7 days uncover and repeat.
Recover
If you have added bacteria and temperatures are high this process will be repeated three times at 7 days intervals.
For active piles this process is complete in 14 days.
At the end of the period you should have mild brown compost that smells like fresh earth.
Stoller Chemicals USA has a source of Humic Acid that aids the process.
Source of C is augmented with Biodegradable Kitchen Waste so store separately from Non Degradable in a covered Can till you are ready to add to your pile.
Happy Composting!

Here is a link that might be useful: huq-such.org