It's a slow and wonderful process. We started on an empty sprout field and all we have planted was about 1m high. Our soil is clay and very fertile. It was sea 100 years ago, then cordoned off (so turned brackish) 80 years ago and finally reclaimed land since 50 years.
Most pioneer trees (like birch and ash) are fast growing so they provide shade and function as windbreakers. There are a few areas that already have a nice food component. Here's a picture of a nice area that has fig, elderberry, a banana (more for show, not fruit), Sechuan pepper, a red plum, a mirabelle in a pot waiting for its final location, a wild apple and a yellow rose. It's what I see from my bedroom