Wash and prepare vegetables: chop potatoes, peel and chop carrots, coarsely chop cabbage, slice zucchini, dice onion, and finely chop garlic.
Combine all ingredients except cannellini beans and cheese in a slow cooker. Mix well.
Cover and cook on LOW for 6 hours
Add cannellini beans. Cover and cook on LOW for 1 hour or until vegetables are tender.
Remove and discard bay leaf. Serve and top with cheese (optional).
