Seed starting without outside inputs

Has anyone figured out how to start seeds indoors without without buying potting soil or the inputs to make it? Can you start seeds in just home made compost?

Being able to buy soil is a new enough thing, I asked my dad how did he start seeds prior to when soil came in bags.

Garden soil, well aged compost, and sieve.  Or more specifically, a series of sieves: 1in, half in, quarter inch.  Sift the soil and compost through increasingly fine holes.  Mix together.   Add sand or more compost until the texture is right (make fist of soil, then see how it crumbles).  

Don't start seeds too shelterd to prevent damping off.

Since starting seeds inside is labour intensive, preference is given to direct seeding.  Peppers and tomatoes were sometimes started inside, depending on variety and where in the world we were.

Flowers were often started inside.