Place the slab bacon in a large saucepan with 2 quarts of water and bring to a boil Reduce the heat and simmer for 1 1/2 hours. Add the carrots. Stick the onion with the clove and add it to the bacon. Thinly slice the cabbage and add it to the bacon after 15 minutes. Simmer for 30 minutes. Add the potatoes and simmer for 15-20 minutes longer. Taste for seasoning. Remove the slab bacon from the saucepan and dice it. Return the diced bacon to the saucepan. Place a thinly sliced piece of country bread in each of the soup bowls before serving and ladle in the soup.
