Providing air and moisture by turning the pile will produce the necessary bacterial action throughout the pile. Practically any organic material can be used. Shredded or chopped leaves added to weeds, grass clippings and plant residue will give the best results. Hay or straw that has been chopped or shredded is good for your compost pile. Any shredded or chopped garden plants are great additions to your compost pile also. Remember to turn your pile regularly, like every 10 to 14 days. You can buy compost starter if you wish, but it's not necessary to produce compost. It just helps to turn your materials into compost quicker. Having two bins is the best way to turn your pile without losing any. If you try to make compost on the ground, you will lose lots of the nutrients into the soil. I like to have a wooden floor under my bins. 

To make a set of bins like mine you will need five 8' 2 X 10's and one 12' 2 X 4 for the floor. Lay the 2 X10's side by side. Cut the 2 X 4 into three equal pieces and spike them across the 2 X 10. Turn the floor over an build your slatted walls on three sides, using 1 X 6 pine boards spaced 2" apart. Use 2 X 4's as corner posts to give the walls some support.   Your bin will be approximately 4' X 8' with three slated sides. 

Now start your compost on one side and each time you want to turn it, just fork it over to the other side of the bin.