Don't skip time! It will reset your restoration progress to a negative percentage.

I am in this same situation. I have purchased everything to improve my town, cleared all debris, grass and unnecessary trees. My belief is that they will add fishing like LDW does in all of their virtual games. So, what I do until the 7th food source is revealed, is focus on getting the happiness up to 100%. That way I would have at least met that criteria for new people and projects.

you have to follow him out to a specific spot

Gold tools lasts the longest also

I find that you don't have to harvest at all. The townspeople will just get it themselves.

It takes at least 5 days for all restoration projects. It costs anywhere from $400 or more.