In a small bowl, mix together brown sugar, thyme, salt, pepper, cinnamon, ginger, and cayenne.
Peel sweet potatoes, cut into 1/2 inch thick slices, and then place in the bottom of a slow cooker, along with sliced onion.
Coat pork with seasoning mixture and place on top of potatoes.
Peel and slice apples. Add to slow cooker along with cranberries, water and soy sauce. Cover and cook on high for 1 -1 1/2 hours. Turn heat to low and continue cooking for another 5-6 hours.
Approximately 20 minutes before serving pork, prepare beet salad: Peel beets and shallot. Add them to a food processor and carefully pulse until beets are shredded, NOT pureed. Scrape out into a bowl. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Mix in mustard, oil, and vinegar; toss to combine.
Shred or slice pork and serve with potatoes, apples, and beets on the side.